Author: PTI
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: March 23, 2009
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/164564/BJP-says-Varun-still-its-candidate.html
Maintaining that Varun Gandhi is still its
candidate, BJP today alleged that Chief Election Commissioner-designate Navin
Chawla's "proximity" to Congress could be the reason behind the
poll body's decision on its Pilibhit Lok Sabha nominee.
It also suggested that strained relations
between Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi was another reason for the Election
Commission's decision.
"There are candidates with criminal charges
in other parties also. Sanjay Dutt of SP, who was indicted by the TADA court,
and Jagdish Tytler and Sajjan Kumar of Congress, who are facing charges in
connection with anti-Sikh riots. Why has an exception been made only for Varun
Gandhi?" party spokesperson Balbir Punj asked.
On if the party saw the decision to be a political
conspiracy against Varun Gandhi, Punj told reporters that "the world
knows about the strained relationship between Sonia Gandhi and Maneka Gandhi
(Varun's mother).
"We also know about the proximity of
the CEC-designate Navin Chawla with Congress and its leadership. I would not
like to comment anything on it."
Party sources said that it is highly unlikely
that BJP could withdraw Gandhi from the poll fray as it could affect its electoral
prospects.
"Yes, Varun is still our official candidate,"
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javdekar told NDTV.
He said, "Basically it is not the EC's
job to say who should be candidate and who should not be.
"EC is not an investigating agency. They
are not the forensic lab to tell whether the tape is authentic or not,"
he said.
"This is not the advisory function of
the Election Commission. If somebody makes such remarks, this is not the BJP's
policy or viewpoint," he added.
Javdekar maintained that the EC is "no
authority" as the right to pronounce someone as guilty or not is reserved
to the courts.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Veerappa
Moily said that the BJP is adopting a soft attitude on the issue.
"The EC is absolutely right in giving
that kind of an advice. The advice comes first and the action comes next.
If they do not take the advice then the onus will lie on BJP," said Moily.
