EC to Bring Charges against Varun Gandhi
The Election Commission on Tuesday decided to bring criminal charges against Varun Gandhi under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the EC has issued necessary directives to Pilibhit District Magistrate, say media reports.
According to TV news reports, the case would be filed under Section 153 A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 123 (a) and 123 (b) and would be non-bailable.
The EC is also reported to have sought an explanation from Pilibhit District Magistrate.
Varun Gandhi is in the eye of a storm for his high pitched oratory which is reported to have targeted the minority community and invited the EC wrath.
In response to an earlier notice issued by the EC, the 29 year old parliamentary hopeful said that television footage being aired across news channels was ‘doctored’ and he was not guilty of allegations being leveled against him.
“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 was quoted as saying by PTI.
Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi had earlier said that his party believed in integration and added that what he saw on television was not acceptable.
He admitted that the controversy was not in the best BJP interests as it came at a time when the party was in the midst of preparations for the ensuing Lok Sabha polls.
A Congress delegation led by AICC general secretary in-charge for Uttar Pradesh, Digvijay Singh met Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy at his office in New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon and called for strict measures against the BJP leader.
