Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: March 18, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/163347/Varun-says-he-is-victim-of-political-conspiracy.html
Under all-round attack over his anti-Muslim
speeches, BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi on Wednesday said the video
footage was "doctored" and a "political conspiracy" has
been hatched to malign him.
"I have been a victim of a political
conspiracy. Those are not my words and that is not my voice. I have not made
any communal statement," Varun, a scion of the estranged Gandhi family
and a saffron party candidate from Pilibhit, told reporters here.
Varun said the tape has been doctored and
it was a "malicious attempt" to brand him communal.
"It has been doctored. It has been a
malicious attempt to brand me as communal. There is no question of my having
any ill feeling towards (any) community," he said.
Varun also wondered why the CD was made public
on March 16 whereas he made the speech on March 5."The CD was supposed
to be made on March 5, why was it released on 16th. Where was it for 12 days,
who has made it," he asked.
The 29-year-old BJP candidate, making his
electoral debut, said nothing "I have ever said has been intended to
incite hatred. I am pro India and not anti-anybody."
"I am proud of my faith and not apologetic
about it. I am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an India in the equal measure,"
he said.
Varun said he has been attempting to restore
confidence in a community that has been "under siege" and asked
the nation to stand by him.
"My attempt has been to restore confidence
in a community that has been under siege in its own country," he said,
adding "I want to ask the nation to stand by me."
Varun alleged that in Pilibhit, Hindus are
living under "fear" and "three temples have been vandalised
in the block in which I have supposed to have given the speech."
"Pilibhit is a sensitive border area.
There is widespread fear, arms are being smuggled into ghettos 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 have been attempts to brand
as communal anybody "identifying with the Hindu community", and
maintained that he has not done anything to "incite hatred".
Varun also claimed that "cow slaughter
remains" have been found in various houses in his constituencies and
no action has been taken against it.
Accusing the authorities of giving a raw deal
to the Hindus, he said "thousands and thousands of people from Hindu
community have been under arrest under the National Security Act."
The Election Commission has ordered filing
of a criminal case against the BJP candidate for his alleged inflammatory
speech with communal overtones.
