[Reader-list] Varun Gandhi and Sterilisation

[anupam chakravartty]

*Varun's comments on sterilisation his personal views: BJP*

BJP distanced itself from the reported comments of its leader Varun Gandhi
that he supported forced sterilisation as ordered by his father Sanjay
Gandhi during national emergency, saying these were his "personal views".

"What Varun Gandhi has said about forced sterilisation may be his personal
views. The BJP encourages and promotes family planning but does not support
any policy of forced sterilisations," said BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath
Singh.

Earlier, Varun Gandhi, whose hate speeches landed had him in jail, has
stirred further controversy by favouring revival of his father Sanjay
Gandhi's compulsory sterilisation policy.

The BJP candidate from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency also favoured
"compulsory military service" for all Indians. In an interview to 'The Daily
Telegraph', Varun said he hoped to follow in his father's footsteps by
offering strong leadership which, according to him, India lacked for 20
years.

Politics, the 29-year-old fire-brand BJP leader said, was his destiny, and
added: "Anyone who says they have no ambition to achieve power at some stage
is lying."

Besides reviving the forced sterilisation policy, Varun said he would also
propose a bill in parliament to introduce compulsory military service for
all Indians to unite the country and overcome caste and religious
differences.

"Instead of people thinking of themselves as Tamils or Brahmins, they should
think of themselves as Indians," he said. Referring to his recent
controversial remarks, Varun denied threatening Muslims, but had vowed to
protect local people from "anti-social" elements after three local girls
were reportedly gang-raped.
As he toured his constituency in a convoy accompanied by armed guards, he
made a clear reference to his controversial stand when he told voters that
he was "fighting for your self-respect.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Varuns-comments-on-forced-sterilisation-his-personal-views-BJP/articleshow/4503278.cms
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