Varun says he is victim of political conspiracy

Pilibhit, Mar 28 (PTI) India's opposition Bhartiya
Janta Party candidate for the coming parliamentary elections
Varun Gandhi Friday moved a surrender plea in connection with
his hate speeches in a local court here in northern state of
Rajasthan, claiming he was a victim of political conspiracy
and was ready to go to jail.

"This is a conspiracy in which I have been framed. I
have full faith in the law and in the judiciary. I believe in
my principles and I am willing to fight for them... I am ready
to go to jail," Varun said shortly after reaching the town
from where he is making his political debut as a BJP Lok Sabha
candidate.

His lawyers moved a surrender plea before Chief
Judicial Magistrate Vipin Kumar and the application is slated
to be taken up for hearing during the day.

Wearing a red-coloured kurta, 29-year-old Varun was
greeted by large number of BJP supporters carrying saffron
flags.

"The only objective of my coming here is to strengthen
my people, my society and the whole country.....I will not
step back, if by my going to jail others are encouraged to
stand by their principles, to fight by their principles," he
said to people raising slogans in his support.

Ahead of the BJP candidate's arrival, party workers
and saffron activists clashed with police.

Supporters shouting 'jai Shri Ram' tried to block
roads to prevent the movement of police leading to a clash
between the two sides.

Some of the protesters were detained to tackle the
situation.

A large number of activists with saffron flags hailing
Varun came in tractors, autorickshaws and buses to the town as
the BJP candidate left Delhi in the small hours for courting
arrest.

BJP's incharge of polls for Uttar Pradesh, Kalraj
Mishra, said he was here to observe the situation.

"I am only observing the situation... I am also seeing
to that there should be no violation of the code of conduct,"
he said.

Asked about Varun Gandhi's plans to court arrest, BJP
spokesperson Balbir Punj said in Delhi that "Varun Gandhi is
responding as a political worker who has a public support base
to respond".

Congress criticised BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate
L K Advani for keeping "silent" on the Varun issue.

"The silent Advaniji is completely in tune with what
is happening because without his consent this could not have
happened. He could have easily stopped it. He wants this issue
to carry on in public eye and continue this tamasha (drama),"
senior Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal said.

Congress spokesperson Abhisekh Singhvi said initially
one group in the BJP had distanced itself from Varun's hate
speeches while other had supported him. This was all part of a
strategy to garner votes at any cost.

The FIR was lodged against Varun in Pilibhit on the
direction of election authorities after CDs containing his
anti-Muslim speeches surfaced.

Varun, who had earlier got anticipatory bail which
ended yesterday, did not apply for extension of bail or go to
the Supreme Court against the Allahabad High Court dismissing
his petition seeking quashing of the FIR. PTI CORR AVA AMK
HMK