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Opposition made Varun a poster boy: Advani
28 Mar 2009, 2146 hrs IST, PTI
PADRAUNA (UP): BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday came out in support of Varun Gandhi, under fire for his alleged hate
speeches, and said it was the opposition which had made him a "poster boy".
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani said.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything."
Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech.
One of the main BJP allies JD(U) has demanded legal action against Gandhi and condemned the statements allegedly made by him.
Asked for his reaction to JD(U) stand, Advani said he had already made clear that he did not agree with the alleged statements made by Varun Gandhi.
"I have already said that I did not agree with what was stated in the CDs," he said.
Opposition made Varun a poster boy: Advani - India - The Times of India
28 Mar 2009, 2146 hrs IST, PTI
PADRAUNA (UP): BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani on Saturday came out in support of Varun Gandhi, under fire for his alleged hate
speeches, and said it was the opposition which had made him a "poster boy".
He accused the Election Commission of exceeding its brief by suggesting BJP should not field him as a candidate in the election.
"We did not make Varun Gandhi a poster boy. It is the others who give publicity. Most of the time, our opponents have made him a poster boy," Advani said.
Advani attacked the Election Commission's suggestion that Gandhi should not be given nomination by BJP as the poll panel had found him guilty of making inflammatory speeches in his constituency Pilibhit.
"The case of Varun Gandhi got wide publicity as the Election Commission did something unprecedented. I was surprised. I support Varun because EC has done an illegal thing as the charge against him has not been proved," Advani said.
Without naming actor Sanjay Dutt, who is set to contest from Lucknow as Samajwadi Party candidate, he said "one who has been convicted is contesting from Lucknow but the Election Commission has not said anything."
Advani addressed election meetings for BJP candidates in Padrauna and Maharajganj areas of Uttar Pradesh.
Some of the locals raised slogans of "Varun Gandhi zindabad" during Advani's speech.
One of the main BJP allies JD(U) has demanded legal action against Gandhi and condemned the statements allegedly made by him.
Asked for his reaction to JD(U) stand, Advani said he had already made clear that he did not agree with the alleged statements made by Varun Gandhi.
"I have already said that I did not agree with what was stated in the CDs," he said.
Opposition made Varun a poster boy: Advani - India - The Times of India