Varun defends: I’m a Gandhi, Hindu and Indian in equal measure

I
am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an Indian in equal measure,” BJP leader Varun
Gandhi said here on Wednesday and claimed that there was a “political
conspiracy” to malign his image and the CD in question was doctored.

Even
as Varun refuted making any remark against a particular community, the
Election Commission issued a notice to the BJP nominee from Pilibhit
and ordered to videograph all his rallies and speeches and sought a
response from him over the violation of the model code of conduct.

Varun
said, “I am pro-India and not anti-anybody… I want to ask the nation
to stand by me.” He went on to add, “My attempt has been to restore
confidence in a community that has been under siege in its own
country.”

Varun alleged that in Pilibhit, Hindus were living
in “fear” and “three temples have been vandalised in the block in which
I am supposed to have given the speech”.

“Pilibhit is a
sensitive border area. There is widespread fear; arms are being
smuggled into ghettoes to be used against India,” he said. Varun said,
“When things are seen out of context, there is always the danger of
misunderstanding. India is a big country with a big heart. There is
room in it for all to live in peace and goodwill. That is my sincere
hope and effort.”

He alleged there had been attempts to brand as
communal anybody “identifying with the Hindu community”, and maintained
that he had not done anything to “incite hatred”.

Varun, who has
taken the plunge into electoral politics from a seat that his mother
Maneka Gandhi nurtured for many years, doubted the genuineness of the
CD. It was supposed to have been based on a speech given on March 4 but
released on March 16, he pointed out.

Varun is learnt to have clarified his stand to BJP leaders LK Advani and Rajnath Singh also.

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