New Delhi, March 18 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should immediately withdraw Varun Gandhi’s candidature from Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat if it has any respect for democratic principles, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader Sitaram Yechury said here Wednesday.
If the BJP did not withdraw Varun Gandhi’s candidature, it would be established that the saffron party supports “the unfiltered communal venom Varun Gandhi has poured”, Yechury told reporters here after launching the party’s election website.
The CPI-M politburo also welcomed the Election Commission’s order to the police to file a criminal complaint against Gandhi.
“The law should take its course,” Yechury said.
He also urged the poll panel not to allow Hindutva forces to instigate communal sentiments in order to get votes.
Referring to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray’s “provocative” speech in 1987, Yechury said “his voting rights were taken away only in 1999”.
Varun Gandhi said in a statement that the CD showing him making inflammatory speeches was doctored.