13 Apr : BJP leader Varun Gandhi, who is in detention under the National Security Act for his alleged hate speeches, agreed to give an undertaking to the Supreme Court that he will not make any provocative speeches during his Lok Sabha poll campaign.The suggestion that 29-year-old Varun should furnish an undertaking that he will not give any "provocative" speeches if granted bail came from a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan.
The counsel appearing for Uttar Pradesh government and Varun agreed to the suggestion.The hearing in the case was adjourned till 16th April.
Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Uttar Pradesh government and Pilibhit’s District Magistrate, said that if Varun gives an undertaking to the Court that he will not create a volatile situation after being released, then it has no objection to his released on interim bail.
After getting nod of the state government, Varun’s counsel and senior advocate Mukul Rohtagi said that the BJP leader would give an undertaking as suggested by the Court.
BJP not to disown Varun, says Advani
BJP’s prime ministerial candidate L K Advani on Monday said that the party will not disown Varun Gandhi if the tapes of his speeches are found to be true, but correct him.
"Even if it turns out to be true, a person making a statement which I don’t approve of, does it empower a party to disown the person?….. (It needs to) correct him that this is not done," he told a news channel.
To a question that will the party disown Varun if his statements turns out to be true, Advani maintained that one cannot run a political party like this.
"If turns out to be true. I will tell him never to do it (again)," he said."I have (known of) so many people who have made statements of which I don’t approve of. I am not on that account (for) throwing them out of the party," he said.
Varun is currently lodged in Etah jail for his anti-Muslim speeches at a rally in Pilibhit. He has denied making the remarks and said the CD containing his speeches was doctored.
Advani, while clarifying his stand, said, "Till now the situation is that he has denied it… even spoken that his voice is not there."If (in a) party comprising millions, a person commits a mistake, on that basis, is he is to be dumped for ever? Is this the right approach? Would you advice anyone else? Have you ever done it?" he asked.
He accused the media of applying double standards on "supposedly communal and secular thinking".