Big Story: Varun gets two-day judicial custody

New Delhi: BJP leader Varun Gandhi was sent to two-day judicial custody by a court after he surrendered in Pilibhit on Saturday among high drama and in the presence of an overwhelming number of supporters.

Varun is accused of making hate speeches directed against a community and his case will come up for hearing on Monday.

The court sentence came shortly after Gandhi said that he was "ready to go to jail" over the anti-Muslim speeches he denies making but which have ignited a huge controversy. Speaking with journalists outside the Pilibhit court, Varun alleged he was framed in the case.

“I have come here to motivate my people. I will do everything to uphold the law. If others are emboldened to follow their principles by my going to jail today then I'm ready. But I have full faith in law and the Indian judiciary system and I believe in my principles. I have been framed but justice will prevail," he said.

The Barkhera and the Hardoi police stations in Pilibhit had registered the cases under Sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between classes), Section 188 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of the People Act 1951.

Thousands of BJP workers and supporters virtually laid siege to Pilibhit, 50 km from UP capital Lucknow, shouting slogans and clashing with the police. Varun is contesting the Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket from Pilibhit.

A large number of activists with saffron flags hailing Varun came on tractors and buses to the town and 50 of them were reportedly arrested after they blocked roads and clashed with the police.

Varun courted controversy after he allegedly made communally venomous speeches while seeking votes. Once the speeches surfaced on CDs, he alleged they were doctored.

The Election Commission came down heavily on him and suggested that he should not be fielded as a candidate in the Lok Sabha election. The BJP refused to do that.

Varun's move to publicly court arrest is being seen as his next step to political stardom and he will do that in full public view.

Though his camp in the BJP is expected to draw political mileage from the issue, the party's leadership seems to be averse to the idea.