Varun's remarks highly deplorable: Digvijay Singh

Maintaining that the remarks made by BJP candidate Varun Gandhi during an election meet in his constituency Pilibhit are "highly deplorable and deserve proper action", the Congress on Tuesday said it is preparing to soon lodge a formal complaint with the Election Commission.

"The kind of statement Varun Gandhi has come out with is highly deplorable and deserves proper action. He has not only communalised the situation but has used abusive words against minorities," AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh told reporters here after leading a Congress delegation which informally discussed the matter with the Election Commission on Tuesday afternoon.

His party has also taken note that the young BJP leader has made statements "belittling" Mahatma Gandhi, Singh said and added that Congress is acquiring the CDs of his
speeches which will be legally examined. Once that is done, "We will put up a complaint formally," Singh said.

Varun is now in the eye of a storm after he allegedly made "inflammatory remarks with communal overtones" during an election meeting in Pilibhit on March 6. While the Election Commission slapped a notice against the estranged young scion of the Gandhi family on Monday, Gandhi is also facing flak from his own party colleagues such
as BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. 

Asked about Naqvi's statement that Varun's remarks his "past Congress connection", Singh retorted "What rubbish". 

"Ever since LK Advani took out Ram Rath Yatra, he has totally communalised the Indian polity. We have seen communal riots. Every time election comes, Ram Mandir becomes an issue," he said.

Meanwhile, election officials said in Lucknow on Monday "Notices have been issued to BJP candidate from Pilibhit and state unit president for their alleged communal remarks. They have been asked to submit their replies."

However, Varun, who is the son of BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, has denied the charges in his reply submitted to the district magistrate M P Agarwal. The DM said that a complaint has been received from the Congress against Varun on which an inquiry has been ordered.

He said that the inquiry would be conducted by sub-divisional magistrate Bisalpur M S Akhtar.