Varun Gandhi says his Pilibhit speech was tampered with

Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh), Mar 17 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Pilibhit constituency, who has been accused of making inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks, today claimed that the CD containing his speech was tampered with.

Replying to questions by TV channels, Gandhi said, "I know it has been (tampered with)".

"All I want to say is that tomorrow I will be addressing a press conference in Delhi and I will be clarifying my stand on every single issue.... I will be addressing from a proper party forum," he added.

Varun Gandhi, at an election meeting in Pilibhit on March 6 had been recorded as saying, "If anyone raises a finger towards Hindus or if someone thinks that Hindus are weak and leaderless, if someone thinks that these leaders lick our boots for votes, if anyone raises a finger towards Hindus, then I swear on Gita that I will cut that hand."

The Election Commission has issued a notice to Gandhi, charging him of violating the Model Code of Conduct for elections by making communal remarks.

Gandhi also came under fire from the Congress and some of his own party leaders for purportedly insulting the minority community.

"It is not just immoral but also illegal. But why are you surprised? This is the ideology of the party that he belongs to and it is very shocking and condemnable," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi said. (ANI)