2009 -- India Election -

[Guest]

Bodhiji is right. Reactions have to be noted. While Shiv Sena and Commies are on predictable lines, regional parties, INC and BJP reactions are to be watched.

BTW what is the security cover for Varun ? Does he also get same cover as his cousins ?

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Cities/...how/4279062.cms

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Interestingly, Varun's sudden metamorphosis from a political greenhorn to a poster boy of hard Hindutva has sent his ratings soaring in the saffron camp. That <b>he has come of age was the consensus among the party satraps</b> who are now more than willing to see him as the most promising young face in election 2009. The incident has also <b>resulted into a spurt of feverish activity in the Congress party as well.</b> The party big wig realised the great opening Varun bashing offered to prove their loyalty to the first family. This, sources said,<b> could account for Digvijay Singh, UP state unit in charge, himself leading the delegation to lodge a complaint with the CEC. </b>

Meanwhile, chief minister <b>Mayawati has also slammed Varun Gandhi for his objectionable remarks.</b> <b>Political observers find the silence of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who declined to comment on the issue, a little intriguing. </b>But the incident, all agree, has spiced up the lacklustre pre-poll scene in UP.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->


http://election.rediff.com/report/2009/mar...ainst-varun.htm

Kapil Sibal plays it safe.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Union Minister Kapil Sibal </b>said that when cognisance has been taken by the Election Commission that a prima facie offence has been committed, whether Varun denies it or not is not relevant.

"<b>The leadership of the BJP will take action because if they don't, then it will be seen that they are the co-conspirators in this," he said.</b> Alleging that the speech was aimed at polarising votes, Sibal said, "I am not concerned with the nature and quality of the speech. It is abhorrent, it is contrary to the basic foundations of our secular democracy".<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Manish Tiwari plays it safe.

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->"<b>I don't think people of the country are going to be taken in by whatever the young Varun Gandhi would have to say because the whole country is aware that it is the BJP which practices hate politics</b>," party spokesman Manish Tewari said. <!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/old-hors...dhi-cub/435869/

Title of article

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Old horses run to guard Gandhi cub<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->The only exceptions were BJP candidate from Lucknow Lalji Tandon and party general secretary Vinay Katiyar, both of whom disapproved of the young Gandhi’s conduct.
..
State BJP president Ramapati Ram Tripathi said Varun might have been misunderstood.

...

Senior leader Kalraj Mishra also tried to explain away the episode saying “Varun is a young candidate, full of enthusiasm” and he might have said things in passing.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

http://www.ptinews.com/pti\ptisite.ns...3E?OpenDocument

Mulayam and Amar Singh

<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Shortly after Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav dismissed the controversy surrounding BJP candidate Varun Gandhi's alleged hate speech, party general secretary Amar Singh said such comments were expected of a saffron leader.
"There is nothing new in the statement. BJP leaders had been using such words in the past too," Singh told reporters here.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->