Varun Gandhi gets notice for alleged communal remarks
Press Trust of India
Monday, March 16, 2009, (Lucknow)

BJP candidate Varun Gandhi has been slapped with a notice charging him with violation of the model code of conduct for elections for allegedly making communal remarks during a rally held on March 6 in Pilibhit.

"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," election officials said here but Varun, who is the son BJP MP Maneka Gandhi, denied the charge in his reply submitted to the district magistrate M P Agarwal.

The DM said that a complaint was received from the Congress against Varun on which an inquiry had been ordered.

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

The notice for violation of model code of conduct was issued on a report submitted by the local intelligence unit which claimed that Varun was giving communal and provocative speeches during rallies, the officials said.

"Making communal or casteist remarks amounts to violation of the model code of conduct," they said.

Varun Gandhi is contesting from Pilibhit seat from where Maneka was elected in the last general election. Maneka, is contesting from Aonla parliamentary constituency this time.

In his reply submitted to the district magistrate, BJP candidate Varun Gandhi has denied charges of making communal remarks