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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Gandhi family scion denies speech | Gandhi family scion denies speech |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A grandson of the late Indian PM Indira Gandhi has denied making an anti-Muslim speech during a recent election rally. | A grandson of the late Indian PM Indira Gandhi has denied making an anti-Muslim speech during a recent election rally. |
| Varun Gandhi said he was a "victim of a political conspiracy" and that he never made the comments attributed to him. | Varun Gandhi said he was a "victim of a political conspiracy" and that he never made the comments attributed to him. |
| Gandhi is alleged to have made the inflammatory remarks while campaigning as a candidate of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). | Gandhi is alleged to have made the inflammatory remarks while campaigning as a candidate of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). |
| Three out of India's 14 prime ministers belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family, including the first, Jawaharlal Nehru. | Three out of India's 14 prime ministers belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family, including the first, Jawaharlal Nehru. |
| 'No question' | 'No question' |
| "I am a victim of political conspiracy. It was not my voice, not my words," Mr Gandhi told a press conference in the Indian capital, Delhi. | "I am a victim of political conspiracy. It was not my voice, not my words," Mr Gandhi told a press conference in the Indian capital, Delhi. |
| "There is no question of saying anything against any community. India is the home to all faiths and beliefs and I respect this," he said. | "There is no question of saying anything against any community. India is the home to all faiths and beliefs and I respect this," he said. |
| Mr Gandhi, a BJP candidate for the Pilibhit constituency in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, said there had been several communal incidents in the area in the recent past. | Mr Gandhi, a BJP candidate for the Pilibhit constituency in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, said there had been several communal incidents in the area in the recent past. |
| "Thousands of Hindus have been placed under arrest. At least three temples have been vandalised. | "Thousands of Hindus have been placed under arrest. At least three temples have been vandalised. |
| "My attempt is to instil confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country," he said. | "My attempt is to instil confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country," he said. |
| GANDHI-NEHRU DYNASTY Jawaharlal Nehru: First Indian prime ministerIndira Gandhi: Killed by her Sikh bodyguardSanjay Gandhi: Killed flying his planeRajiv Gandhi: Assassinated by suspected Tamil Tiger supportersSonia Gandhi: Congress Party president | |
| Varun Gandhi is the son of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's younger son who was killed in a plane crash. | Varun Gandhi is the son of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's younger son who was killed in a plane crash. |
| Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Varun Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned them. | Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Varun Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned them. |
| Now a member of the Hindu nationalist BJP, he is making his political debut in next month's general election. | Now a member of the Hindu nationalist BJP, he is making his political debut in next month's general election. |
| But an alleged campaign speech made on Sunday has got him into trouble with the country's independent election commission. | But an alleged campaign speech made on Sunday has got him into trouble with the country's independent election commission. |
| During his speech, which was videotaped and aired on television, Mr Gandhi is seen as making offensive remarks against Muslims. | During his speech, which was videotaped and aired on television, Mr Gandhi is seen as making offensive remarks against Muslims. |
| Criminal charges have been filed against him after the election commission reviewed the footage. | Criminal charges have been filed against him after the election commission reviewed the footage. |
| The BJP has distanced itself from the remarks and said it will consider action if the charges are proved. | The BJP has distanced itself from the remarks and said it will consider action if the charges are proved. |
| If convicted, Mr Gandhi could be disqualified from contesting and face imprisonment. | If convicted, Mr Gandhi could be disqualified from contesting and face imprisonment. |