Indira grandson avoids arrest over anti-muslim hate speech
Published: March 21, 2009
NEW DELHI (AFP) - An Indian court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to a grandson of former premier Indira Gandhi, who is facing charges for making anti-Muslim hate speeches while campaigning for elections.
The Delhi High Court order restrains police from arresting Varun Gandhi, but ordered the would-be Hindu nationalist MP to post bail of 50,000 rupees (1,000 dollars), the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Varun has been at the centre of a political storm after allegedly telling supporters at a series of rallies earlier this month that his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would cut the head of Muslims.
Indias Election Commission reviewed the speeches and ordered he face criminal charges for stoking sectarian tensions.
The BJP, Indias main opposition, was also given an official warning.
Varun maintains the recordings of his speeches were tampered with and that he did not intend to incite anyone.
India goes to the polls to elect a new parliament and government from April 16 to May 13. Muslims make up Indias largest minority community, and relations with majority Hindus have been troubled and sometimes violent since the country secured independence from Britain in 1947.
Varun is the son of Indiras second child Sanjay, a side of the family that was disowned by the dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has no blood relation to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of Indias independence movement.
The Nation | The Nation is the most credible of English Newspapers in Pakistan.
Published: March 21, 2009
NEW DELHI (AFP) - An Indian court on Friday granted anticipatory bail to a grandson of former premier Indira Gandhi, who is facing charges for making anti-Muslim hate speeches while campaigning for elections.
The Delhi High Court order restrains police from arresting Varun Gandhi, but ordered the would-be Hindu nationalist MP to post bail of 50,000 rupees (1,000 dollars), the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Varun has been at the centre of a political storm after allegedly telling supporters at a series of rallies earlier this month that his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would cut the head of Muslims.
Indias Election Commission reviewed the speeches and ordered he face criminal charges for stoking sectarian tensions.
The BJP, Indias main opposition, was also given an official warning.
Varun maintains the recordings of his speeches were tampered with and that he did not intend to incite anyone.
India goes to the polls to elect a new parliament and government from April 16 to May 13. Muslims make up Indias largest minority community, and relations with majority Hindus have been troubled and sometimes violent since the country secured independence from Britain in 1947.
Varun is the son of Indiras second child Sanjay, a side of the family that was disowned by the dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has no blood relation to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of Indias independence movement.
The Nation | The Nation is the most credible of English Newspapers in Pakistan.
