Varun Gandhi's speech worse than what was aired: N. Gopalaswami

New Delhi, Apr 18 (ANI): Two days before demitting the Election Commission office, Chief Election Commissioner N. Gopalaswami on Saturday said that the BJP leader Varun Gandhi's controversial speech was worse than what was aired.

"There is no reason to believe that the tape containing Varun's speech was doctored. His speech was worse than what was aired," Gopalaswami said in an interview with NDTV.

Gopalaswami also termed the Election Commission's suggestion to BJP to not to field Varun in LS elections was justified.

When asked about EC's decision to conduct polling in naxal-hit areas together, Gopalaswami said: "Naxal-hit areas polling was conducted together to prevent movement of naxalites."

The CEC also spoke about Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav's issue by stating that the money distributed by the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister was part of a tradition.

The CEC, however, said that the case of money distributed by the BJP leader Jaswant Singh does come under the Model Code of Conduct.

Asked about his relation with Election Commissioner Navin Chawla, Gopalaswami said he was right in his report on Chawla.

"I have no regret on differences with Chawla. I did what I thought was right in my report on Chawla," Gopalaswami asserted. (ANI)