By IANS,
Lucknow : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) national general sercretary Satish Misra Tuesday justified filing charges against Bharatiya Janata Party leader Varun Gandhi under the National Security Act (NSA) for his hate speeches and criticised both the BJP and the Congress for opposing the move.
Reacting to the Supreme Court’s view that invoking the deterrent law against Varun Gandhi was disproportionate to his offence, Misra told a press conference here: “We are going to reiterate our stand more forcefully before the apex court. After all, Varun Gandhi’s offence was of a very serious nature.”
“Varun Gandhi’s utterances were clearly intended to incite commual disharmony and to vitiate the atmosphere. The chief minister (Mayawati) wanted to send the message loud and clear that no matter how high and mighty one might be, a law offender would be dealt with most severely,” Mishra said.
“It did not mean that if Varun Gandhi belonged to the Gandhi family, his crime could be condoned.”
Varun Gandhi, the BJP’s nominee for the Pilibhit seat, was arrested from that town last month after his speeches allegedly targetting the minority community.
Asked to comment on the affidavit and undertaking that Varun Gandhi was moving before the apex court assuring the court that he would not make provocative speeches during the elections, Misra said: “Let me first see what he has said in the affidavit.”
Misra wondered how Congress leader Kapil Sibal was ready to oppose the NSA against Varun Gandhi.
“Kapil Sibal’s opposition to the NSA against Varun Gandhi sounds much like L.K. Advani’s criticism of the move, thereby naturally arousing suspicion that the Congress and BJP were hand-in-glove.”