Varun says tape doctored,denies charge

“I strongly refute the charge of making any communal or divisive statements as part of my election campaign. In this climate of terrorism,I have spoken only about standing firm against the anti-national and anti-social forces that threaten this nation,” Gandhi said in a statement.

“I categorically reiterate my family’s and my own unwavering commitment to the ideals of secularism,” he said.

Gandhi blamed the controversy on his ‘frustrated electoral rivals’ for making ‘a crude and vicious attempt’ to malign him by doctoring his speech.

“I unequivocally state that that (the speech CD) is neither my voice nor my language. The tape in question appears to have been doctored,” Gandhi claimed.

“These are purportedly two weeks old. None of what I have actually said was either intended or taken to be communal which is testified to by the fact that this intervening period there has been no communal tension or untoward incident,” he said.