The Hindu : National : BJP: we’ll not seek political mileage from Pilibhit episode

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BJP: we’ll not seek political mileage from Pilibhit episode

Atiq Khan

LUCKNOW: Within hours of Varun Gandhi being declared as the new “saffron hero,” the Bharatiya Janata Party now wants the Pilibhit issue to end. Kalraj Mishra, who is in charge of the BJP’s Uttar Pradesh affairs, described Mr. Gandhi as a “party worker” and declared that his services would be utilised in the party’s poll campaign in the State in accordance with “his capabilities.”

Mr. Mishra, who was in Pilibhit earlier in the day when Mr. Gandhi was sent to two days judicial custody by a city court, told journalists in Lucknow on Saturday that the BJP would not seek political mileage from the Pilibhit episode in the coming elections. “Pilibhit is no poll issue,” declared Mr. Mishra, who rushed to the State capital after Mr. Gandhi was sent to jail. He wanted the issue to be closed.

Mr. Mishra pointed out that the CD (containing Varun’s alleged hate speech ) appeared to have been sponsored. Stating that some objectionable words might have been used by Mr. Gandhi, he said the matter should have been allowed to rest, particularly after Mr. Gandhi expressed regrets (for having made the objectionable references) and reiterated his faith in communal amity and secularism.

Without saying as much, the senior leader said the BJP had distanced itself from the sponsored (“prayojit”) Pilibhit episode.

He assailed the Prime Minister and the members of the Gandhi “parivar” (read Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi) for their comments on Varun. He attacked the Congress for taking into its fold persons accused of announcing a reward on George Bush (Maulana Tauqeer Reza Khan) and match-fixing (Mohammad Azharuddin).

On the flip side, Mr. Mishra accused the Pilibhit district administration of mishandling the situation that resulted in police lathicharge and firing on party workers. Describing the police action as administrative failure, Mr. Mishra said that despite getting prior information of the presence of thousands of workers and members of the public, the district officials failed to make adequate arrangements.

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