BJP distances itself from Varun, won't dump him

New Delhi: Varun Gandhi remains the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh despite being hauled up by the Election Commission for his allegedly communal speeches.

"Varun Gandhi is our candidate from Pilibhit. He is the declared candidate of the party," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told reporters here amid speculation that the party had distanced itself from the young candidate.

Varun has been in the eye of a storm since a CD emerged showing him making hate speeches against Muslims at public meetings in Pilibhit. He claims the CD had been doctored.

When asked what the party would do if the poll panel found the allegation to be true, Javadekar said: "Let the Election Commission take action, then we will decide."

The Election Commission had served a notice on Varun, to which he filed a reply Friday, saying his speeches in Pilibhit were not intended to spark communal ill-will. He also secured anticipatory bail from the Delhi High Court.

The BJP, however, told the poll panel late Thursday that in view of Varun’s assertion that he had not made the offending remarks, the Election Commission "should endeavour to obtain the original copy of the speech ... to check the veracity of the same".

Varun has been accused of making communally inflammatory speeches at public meetings at Pilibhit constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

The BJP said in its letter to the Election Commission that "it completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves the contents of the alleged CD (of the speeches) as sent to us.

"Even assuming that a speech has been delivered by a member of the party, these contents do not represent the views of the party or its policies."

The BJP reiterated its commitment to the model code of conduct "in its entirety" and said it "shall endeavour to fully comply with it".

"Merely because a member of the party has expressed views contrary to what the party stands for, the party cannot be vested with any responsibility.

"In view of the categorical position taken by the BJP before the issuance of the notice (by the poll panel) and in reply to the notice, we request the Election Commission to discharge the notice."