Varun Gandhi, Indira's Grandson, Faces Criminal Charges For Anti-Muslim Remarks (VIDEO)

Video footage has emerged of conservative BJP candidate Varun Gandhi delivering incendiary anti-Muslim remarks from the stump. The footage has spurred India's election committee to request Gandhi's election state, Uttar Pradesh, to file charges against him, the Telegraph reports.

[WATCH:]

Gandhi's remarks are being condemned by rivals and fellow BJP party members alike, causing the candidate to deny the authenticity of the footage. From the Times of India:

"I strongly refute the charge of making any communal or divisive statements as part of my election campaign. In this climate of terrorism, I have spoken only about standing firm against anti-national and anti-social forces that threaten this nation," Varun Gandhi said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.

...

He said, "There are two speeches that have been attacked and these are two weeks old. None of what I have actually said was either intended or taken to be communal, which is testified to by the fact that in this intervening period there has been no communal tension or untoward incident in the district."

Comments

[texaslib82]

03:20 PM on 03/28/2009

I dont think he said anything wrong...

[Gasparilla]

09:27 PM on 03/18/2009

No relation the the Mahatma. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of the first prime minister of India, Nehru.

[Aroon]

01:34 PM on 03/18/2009

Feroz Gandhi was a "Parsi" meaning originally from Parsia,Iran, hence a Zorostrian. He married Indira, daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru. Hence the name Indira Gandhi. Mahatma Gandhi was a Jain, no relation to Feroz. Varun is son of second daughter-in- law of Indira Gandhi. By the way , as has been proven repeatedly, there is a faction of Indian Muslim community which engages in terrorist activities. ( So are communists, who are rarely called terrorists; even though they have murdered innocent people in South and North East India). They are anti-national and also anti-Muslim, because they don't care who is killed in terrorist attacks. Are not Pakistani or Talibani terrorists killing Muslims and blowing up mosques in Pakistan?
So what is wrong in pointing to these anti-national elements? If BJP or other Hindu organizations indulge in terrorism, point at them too. But you need to prove that they are terrorists.

[xriv]

09:37 PM on 03/17/2009

Shame on Gandhi's descendants!!

[aganji]

02:23 PM on 03/18/2009

He is no relation to Mahatma Gandhi, they just happen to share a last name.

[dem 01]

01:54 AM on 03/19/2009

Strange, really strange !

I will not be surprised if some of you will have a claim tomorrow about biological relation between YOUR GUY and Muslims.

You guys are bad as he is !

[vishix]

02:53 PM on 03/18/2009

you are ignorant. read the comments and find out he's not a descendant of gandhi, technically speaking.

[dispassionateobserver01]

04:46 PM on 03/17/2009

First of all its Gandhi, not Ghandi.

Secondly, he's not a political heir of Indira Gandhi. Varun Gandhi's mother, Indira Gandhi's daughter-in-law broke with the Congress Party and was part of the BJP led NDA government from 1999-2004. Varun Gandhi is a member of the BJP - which stands in opposition to the Congress in Indian Politics.

Thirdly, Indira Gandhi was no relation of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Indira Gandhi was the daughter of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the wife of Feroz Gandhi (hence her last name).

[xriv]

09:34 PM on 03/17/2009

So what relation Feroz Gandhi has with "Bapu"??

[aganji]

02:25 PM on 03/18/2009

None.

[Strategy]

11:22 PM on 03/18/2009

And why are you posting here exactly? I thought you said Indians shouldn't post on P@kistani matters!! So, I am confused now!

[Morocco]

03:31 PM on 03/17/2009

Even the great Gandhi! The most admired man who advocates peace can have his tree spread branches of hate as we saw here. This guy should be ashamed, he is no Gandhi.

[Ms Fu]

02:50 PM on 03/17/2009

The BJP is the biggest threat to India's future (Muslim terrorists are a close second). The BJP has instigated violence against Muslims in Gujurati, Christians in southern India, and moderate Hindus.

[gsc 99]

04:52 PM on 03/17/2009

Please stop day dreaming

[vishix]

05:32 PM on 03/17/2009

what are you talking about?? when dec 2001 pakistani terrorist attack on indian parliament happened did the BJP act without thinking? No they showed restraint and reason and logic. Once they get into power, they move to the center. I think BJP needs to get back into power.

[hillpill]

10:08 AM on 03/18/2009

MsFu makes absolute sense.
>> Once they get into power, they move to the center. -Yeah, right, like they did with the Babri Masjid incident...
Keep dreaming!

[McCaca9]

12:28 PM on 03/17/2009

Tapes are doctored. ToI is reporting that the audio isn't interlaced.

[dem 01]

02:30 PM on 03/17/2009

"Tapes are doctored" - REALLY
WTF

We all know there is no such thing as a Hindu nationalism.

[McCaca9]

12:22 PM on 03/17/2009

Before the ignorant here start spewing just be clear that Indira Gandhi NOT a relative or of relation to the Mahatma.

And he's the son of her ESTRANGED daughter in law who joined the opposition.