Government to monitor Varun Gandhi's activities, says Mayawati

Lucknow/ Patna, Apr 17 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has said that a close watch would be kept on the activities of Varun Gandhi after the Supreme Court accepted his undertaking that he will not make any inflammatory remarks in future and based on this, also granted him parole for two weeks.

She was addressing media persons here on Thursday just prior to the release of Varun from the Etah District Jail.

Earlier, the Supreme Court granted two weeks parole to Varun in the case filed against him for allegedly making inflammatory speeches.

Meanwhile, Mayawati drew parallel between the undertaking given by Varun and the one by Kalyan Singh who in 1992 had headed the BJP-led Government of Uttar Pradesh and had assured that his government would safeguard Babri Masjid.

She said inspite of the undertaking given by Kalyan Singh, the Babri structure was demolished by hoodlums of BJP and allied associate organisations, known as Sangh Parivar.

Recalling these events of the past, Mayawati wanted Varun to abide by his written assurance.

"We must remember that Varun belongs to the same BJP. Like former Chief Minister Kalyan Singh of BJP under whose regime, the Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya. So in such a situation, we have to see how much Varun follows what he promised in his undertaking," she said.

Describing Varun as a threat to the law and order in the state, she said that the State Government had strongly pleaded before the Supreme Court not to release him.

Further she reiterated that the State Government would not spare anyone violating the law.

Varun could not have been allowed to go scot-free simply because he belonged to the Gandhi family, Mayawati said.

Hailing the Supreme Court's decision, BJP president Rajnath Singh in Patna said that Varun was being harassed.

"We had already made it clear in the court that Varun was being harassed, which even the Supreme Court said. Varun has made it clear that he did not make the statement," said Rajnath Singh.

Varun's release has come as a relief to the BJP since the Election Commission had last month found him guilty of delivering an anti- Muslim speech in a recent election rally in Pilibhit. (ANI)