3 min readNew DelhiApr 13, 2009 02:23 PM IST
First published on: Apr 13, 2009 at 02:23 PM IST
BJP leader Varun Gandhi,who is in detention under the National Security Act for his alleged hate speeches,on Monday assured the Supreme Court that he would not make any “provocative” speeches during his Lok Sabha elections campaign if released on bail.
29-year-old Varun agreed to give an undertaking before the apex Court in this regard after a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan indicated that his plea for bail would be considered after he gives such an assurance.
“If he gives an undertaking that he will not make any such provocative speeches then (his plea could be considered),” the Bench said.
The Court was hearing the petition of the BJP nominee from Pilibhit constituency from Uttar Pradesh,challenging invocation of the NSA against him for making alleged communal speeches and the chaos created by him while surrendering before a court in Pilibhit on March 28 in connection with the cases registered against him.
The Uttar Pradesh government also said that it had no objection if the politician was granted bail after giving an undertaking that he would not create a “volatile” situation.
The Court after hearing the arguments adjourned the matter till April 16.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohtagi,appearing for Varun,pleaded that matter should be heard on an urgent basis.
“Everyday counts for him as he has to file the nomination papers from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency and also has to start campaigning,” Rohtagi submitted.
The filing of nomination papers would begin from April 17,he said.
The BJP leader had approached the apex Court after he was arrested under the NSA for allegedly making inflammatory statements and causing a breach of public order when he went to Pilibhit to surrender on March 28 in a case registered against him for allegedly making “inflammatory and communal speech” during his campaigning there last month.
The Court had on April 2 issued notices to the state government and the District Magistrate of Pilibhit on the allegation by Varun that NSA was invoked against him with a political motive to sabotage his electoral debut.
However,the Uttar Pradesh government,in its 35-page response to the notice issued by the apex court,said the inflammatory statement by Varun and the manner in which he surrendered on March 28 amounted to breach of public order,warranting invocation of the NSA against him.
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