Even before the Arun Jaitley controversy could find an amicable settlement, the BJP on Tuesday suffered another major embarrassment when a political storm was triggered by alleged inflammatory comments against the Muslim community made by one of its young faces, Varun Gandhi, who is also the party candidate from Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh.
Finding itself at a loss in trying to explain the young leader?s remarks, the BJP quickly distanced itself from the controversy even as the Election Commission slapped him with a notice charging him with violation of the model code of conduct and the police filed a case against Varun. BJP partners were also unsparing in their criticism. The Congress, on the other hand, quickly grabbed the opportunity to paint the BJP as a communal party, while attacking the youth leader for his anti-Muslim speeches.
Television channels on Tuesday showed a CD in which the young leader, while addressing an election meeting in Pilibhit, said ?This is not a ?Hand? (Congress symbol), it is the power of the ?Lotus? (BJP symbol). It will cut the head of ……. Jai Shri Ram.? In another meeting, the grandson of Indira Gandhi said, ?If anyone raises a finger towards Hindus or if someone thinks that Hindus are weak and leaderless, if someone thinks that these leaders lick our boots for votes, if anyone raises a finger towards Hindus, then I swear on Gita that I will cut that hand.?
The three member EC met this morning to discuss the speeches and consequently directed the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer to file a case against him under the Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act. The BJP was also slapped with a notice over Gandhi?s remarks.
Facing the flak, Varun quickly denied having made the comments, charging that the CD was doctored and tampered with. ?All I want to say is that tomorrow I will be addressing a press conference in Delhi and I will be clarifying my stand on every single issue…I will be addressing from a proper party forum,? Gandhi said.
The damage, however, was clearly done with the BJP?s two Muslim leaders, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Shahnawaz Hussain, snubbing Varun and demanding an unconditional apology from him. However, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu maintained it is still not clear as to ?what he said, what he didn?t….what you heard.? The BJP?s ally and JD (U) leader Shivanand Tiwari, on the other hand, said that the Election Commission should take cognisance of Gandhi?s speech and that there should be a ?legitimate? inquiry.Gandhi, whose mother Maneka Gandhi is a BJP MP, also faced strong criticism from within the party.
As a consequence of the controversy, the BJP on Tuesday advised all its nominees for the polls to ?practice caution? in their speeches. ?We have advised all our candidates to practice caution and restrain in their speeches,? party spokesperson Siddarth Nath Singh told PTI. Terming Gandhi’s comments as condemnable, Congress spokesman Abhishekh Singhvi said, ?He is associated with a party which has this (anti-minority) ideology and culture?.