Seeking to make Varun Gandhi's detention under NSA a major poll issue, BJP has constituted a panel led by its former president M Venkaiah Naidu to assess the situation on the ground and report back to its top leadership.

A special meeting of the office bearers have also been convened on Friday to discuss the situation.

According to sources, Singh has deputed Naidu and UP BJP chief Ramapathi Tripathi to visit Gandhi in Etah jail on Thursday.

Naidu and Tripathi would be presenting a detailed report on the situation after talking to Gandhi and the local leadership, sources added.

The report would be discussed at a meeting of the office bearers of the party convened by Singh on Friday. "The meeting would chalk out the future strategy of the party vis-a-vis Varun Gandhi. It is also aimed at presenting a uniform view among the top leadership on the issue," said a senior party leader.

"I can only say that the UPA and Mayawati government should stop playing with fire. Imposing NSA while the charges have been denied by Varun Gandhi himself is unjustified. The veracity of the tapes should be established," party chief Rajnath Singh told reporters in Raipur on Wednesday.

I can only say at this point of time that all "options are open for the party. The government should make proper arrangement for ensuring security of Varun Gandhi," Singh said declining to comment whether the party would provide legal support.

The BJP candidate from Pilibhit, booked under National Security Act for his hate speeches, has been shifted to a high-security Etah jail following intelligence inputs that underworld don Chota Shakeel was hatching a conspiracy to kill him.

... contd.