Click to play videoNew Delhi: Breaking his silence on his controversial speech targeting the Muslim community allegedly made during an election rally in Pilibhit on March 6, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi on Wednesday morning issued a clarification saying he was a Gandhian and the CD of his speech had been tampered with.
“I am proud of my faith and not apologetic of it. I am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an Indian in equal measure. I'm a victim of political conspiracy,” Varun Gandhi said refusing to apologise for his provocative speech.
"Nothing I have said was intended to incite anyone. There is no question of my having any ill feeling towards any community. My attempt is to instill confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country," he said.
Claiming that the CD was tampered with, Varun said, "Those are not my words, that is not my voice. I want to ask the nation to stand by me. It was intended to insult. I am pro-India, not anti anybody."
Varun also applied for an anticipatory bail. An FIR had been filed by the Pilibhit District Magistrate on Tuesday following a directive by the Election Commission.
Varun allegedly made a hate speech against Muslims in which he reportedly said that he would cut the hands of those who target Hindus.
"They have scary names - Karimullah, Nazarullah - its scary to see them at night. I have a cousin - my aunt's daughter - she saw a pamphlet which had photos of all candidates. When my cousin who is seven-eight years old, saw Samajwadi Party's candidate's photo, she said Bhaiya (big brother), I didn't know that Osama Bin Laden is fighting from your constituency," Varun said in his speech.
"This is not a "hand", this is the power of the lotus. This will cut the head of the Muslim. Jai Shri Ram. If anyone raises a finger towards Hindus, or if someone thinks that Hindus are weak and leaderless... if someone thinks that these leaders lick our boots for our votes... if anyone raises a finger towards Hindus - then I swear on the Gita that I will cut that hand," he said.
Varun's speech has created fissures even within the BJP with Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday demanding that the young leader issue a public apology for branding all Muslims as Osama bin Laden.
Anoth Muslim leader of the BJP Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi admitted that the controversial speech had damaged the party.
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