BJP Shuns Liability over Varun Oratorical

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said it was could not be held responsible for party candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi’s alleged anti-Muslim utterances at pre-poll rallies in his Uttar Pradesh constituency, but asked the Election Commission to check the authenticity of the video footage showing the parliamentary hopeful making the speeches.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party categorically states that it completely disagrees, disassociates and disapproves the contents of the CD as sent to us,” said party leader R Ramakrishna a one page response to an EC notice, issued after the footage appeared on national television and stirred the Congress into protest.

Without referring to Gandhi as the party candidate in the forthcoming parliamentary polls, the BJP said: “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.

Stating that it was unaware of the speech by the 29-year-old Varun Gandhi till its contents were telecast by news channels, the BJP has urged the EC to check the authenticity of the CD and said that the party too was looking into the matter independently.

Earlier in the day, Varun Gandhi too filed a reply to the EC notice, but details of its contents remained mysterious with his lawyers categorically refusing comment.

(With Inputs)