Old horses run to guard Gandhi cub

The only exceptions were BJP candidate from Lucknow Lalji Tandon and party general secretary Vinay Katiyar,both of whom disapproved of the young Gandhi’s conduct.

State BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said Varun might have been misunderstood. “We need to see the context he was talking in. Maybe when he said those words,he was talking about terrorists and their activities,” Tripathi said,adding he would try to talk to the young leader.

Senior leader Kalraj Mishra also tried to explain away the episode saying “Varun is a young candidate,full of enthusiasm” and he might have said things in passing.

“But since we all respect the feelings of the people and also of the EC,we will ask Varun to avoid such incidents in future,” he said.

BJP national general secretary and its candidate from Ambedkar Nagar constituency,Vinay Katiyar,however,regretted Gandhi’s reported remarks.

“It’s fine if you talk about a person. But it is wrong to say any such thing about a community. The matter is now for the senior leaders to handle and the Election Commission to take action. We will ensure no one makes such remarks in future,” he said.

Tandon said the party high command should ensure such incidents were not repeated. “We never indulge in any such loose talks or abusive language,as we were taught by our elders,” he said.

State BJP’s vice president HN Dixit,however,accused the Congress and the Samajwadi Party of blowing up the issue.

“Why are the Congress and the SP making such a hue and cry over it. The SP calls his speech as provocative,but haven’t their leaders made similar remarks? Even the Congress has been making such remarks time and again,” Dixit said.

Undignified,provocative: Maya
Criticising Varun Gandhi’s alleged inflammatory speech in Pilibhit,Chief Minister Mayawati said it was “a deliberate conspiracy” to disrupt law and order in the state.

Describing the speech as “undignified and provocative”,the CM said such statements would disintegrate the nation and the society. The episode had exposed the real face of the BJP,which was desperately trying to divide the people by making such statements.

She said in the past,she had cautioned people about possible efforts on part of the BJP and other “similar,communal parties” to disrupt the communal harmony and create tension in the country in view of the Lok Sabha elections. She appealed to the EC to take such incidents seriously and ensure action. — ENS