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Call to bar Gandhi family member BJP refuses to drop Varun Gandhi
(about 1 hour later)
India's election authorities have advised the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to not nominate a grandson of the late PM Indira Gandhi. India's opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says ex-PM Indira Gandhi's grandson will be an election candidate, despite anti-Muslim accusations.
The authorities said Varun Gandhi had made "highly derogatory" remarks while campaigning in his constituency. The Election Commission (EC) had advised the BJP not to nominate Varun Gandhi, saying he had made "highly derogatory" remarks while campaigning.
The BJP says it stands by Mr Gandhi and has accused the commission of "bias". The BJP said the EC was biased and that only courts could rule on candidacy.
Mr Gandhi is alleged to have made anti-Muslim statements while campaigning for the upcoming elections. He has denied the claims. Mr Gandhi has denied making the comments and said a recording of the remarks had been "doctored".
Mr Gandhi says an apparent recording of his speech has been "doctored".
The Election Commission, however, says it is convinced that footage of Mr Gandhi's speech has "not been tampered with, doctored or morphed as alleged by the respondent".The Election Commission, however, says it is convinced that footage of Mr Gandhi's speech has "not been tampered with, doctored or morphed as alleged by the respondent".
'Highly derogatory' 'Victim'
In a 10-page order, the commission said that Mr Gandhi "does not deserve to be a candidate". In a 10-page order, the commission said that Mr Gandhi, 29, "does not deserve to be a candidate" in next month's election.
It said that Mr Gandhi's statements contained "highly derogatory" references and seriously provocative language of a "wholly unacceptable" nature. The Election Commission has chosen to give a judgement without any examination Prakash Javdekar,senior BJP leader
Meanwhile, several BJP leader have come out in Mr Gandhi's support. It said Mr Gandhi's statements contained "highly derogatory" references and seriously provocative language of a "wholly unacceptable" nature.
BJP spokesman Balbir Punj told reporters that Mr Gandhi should be given a chance to explain his position before he was declared guilty. However, Balbir Punj, a spokesman for the BJP, India's main opposition party, said the commission had "no authority to give such a direction to a political party".
Another party leader, Prakash Javdekar, said it was not the commission's job to decide as to who should contest the polls and any action with regard to someone's candidature could be taken only by the courts. "Varun Gandhi is the BJP candidate in Pilibhit [constituency in Uttar Pradesh]. What I am telling you is the outcome of the consultations among the BJP leaders."
"Varun Gandhi has raised doubts on the authenticity of the CD [containing the recording of the speech]. The Election Commission has chosen to give a judgement without any examination," Mr Javdekar said. The footage of Mr Gandhi's rallies on 6 and 8 March in Pilibhit have been broadcast on Indian television.
"It seems the commission has turned into an investigating agency and a forensic laboratory. After receiving a formal letter from the commission, we will give our view on it at an proper time," he said. But senior BJP leader, Prakash Javdekar, said: "Varun Gandhi has raised doubts on the authenticity of the CD [containing the recording of the speech]. The Election Commission has chosen to give a judgement without any examination.
Mr Gandhi cannot be barred from contesting elections unless he is convicted or found guilty by courts, but criminal charges have now been filed against him. "It seems the commission has turned into an investigating agency and a forensic laboratory."
Mr Gandhi says he is a "victim of a political conspiracy". Mr Gandhi, who is making his political debut in the election, says he is a "victim of a political conspiracy".
"It was not my voice, not my words," he told reporters last week."It was not my voice, not my words," he told reporters last week.
"There is no question of saying anything against any community. India is home to all faiths and beliefs and I respect this," he said."There is no question of saying anything against any community. India is home to all faiths and beliefs and I respect this," he said.
Mr Gandhi, a BJP candidate for the Pilibhit constituency in northern Uttar Pradesh state, is the son of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's younger son who was killed in a plane crash. Mr Gandhi cannot be barred from contesting elections unless he is convicted or found guilty by courts, but criminal charges have now been filed against him.
Mr 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, Mr Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned them.Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Mr Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned them.
Now a member of the Hindu nationalist BJP, he had been set to make his political debut in next month's general election.