1 Apr :BJP leader Varun Gandhi on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to slap National Security Act (NSA) against him for alleged hate speeches in Pilibhit saying it was done by Uttar Pradesh government to "sabotage" his electoral debut.
"The entire attempt is a combined effort of the District Magistrate of Pilibhit and Uttar Pradesh government to ensure that he is not able to contest and campaign for general electons scheduled for next month so as to sabotage his electoral debut," the petition filed on behalf of Varun said.
The 29-year leader, who sought release from the jail, said the detention order under NSA was passed with "political motivation" without following the due procedure.
The petition, filed through advocate Sandeep Kapoor, sought quashing of the District Magistrate’s order invoking section 3(2) of NSA for allegedly making inflammatory statements and causing a breach of public order when he went to Pilibhit to surrender on March 28 in cases registered against him for his communal speeches during the campaign.
Varun, who was tipped to contest from Pilibhit, alleged he was detained under NSA as there was apprehension to Uttar Pradesh government that he will be released on bail in the cases registered against him for the alleged hate speeches.
He alleged there was a breach of peace on the day of surrender due to brutality and excesses by the police when he was going to surrender.UP govt denies reports of threat to Varun from underworld
Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday refuted media reports that underworld don Chota Shakeel was plotting to kill Varun Gandhi, saying the BJP leader was transferred to high-security Etah jail only to ensure peaceful elections.
"News reports appearing in a section of media today is far from truth," Director General of Police Vikram Singh told reporters in Lucknow while reacting to reports in this regard.
Singh said the state government had sought the Election Commission’s permission to transfer Gandhi, the BJP candidate from Pilibhit, to Etah jail to ensure peaceful conduct of elections and to maintain public order in the constituency.
"On the basis of permission given by the EC, Varun was transferred to Etah jail last night," said Singh, who was flanked by principal secretary home Fateh Bahadur Singh.
According to official sources, Intelligence agencies had informed the state government a week ago about an intercepted telephonic conversation between Pakistan-based Shakeel and his key shooter Rashid indicating a plot to kill 29-year-old Gandhi, the day he came to surrender at a Pilibhit Court.Rashid was arrested in Karnataka last week after intelligence agencies intercepted the telephonic conversation between Shakeel and his aides between 15th-21st March, the sources said.