Varun released on Parole

16-04-09 In a conditional reprieve for detained BJP leader Varun Gandhi, the Supreme Court today ordered his release on parole for two weeks after he gave an undertaking to Etah jail authorities that he will not make inflammatory speeches. The apex court imposed a stringent condition that 29-year-old Varun, held under the National Security Act, will not make any speech against a community, religion, race and disturb public order during the period of parole.

BJP on Thursday welcomed the order of the Supreme Court to release Varun Gandhi on parole for two weeks and indicated that the young leader may campaign for the party candidates in areas other than Pilibhit.

"We welcome the SC decision to release Mr. Gandhi on parole. Mr. Gandhi, who is an active party worker will meanwhile work for the party in this period," party spokesman Balbir Punj told reporters here.

To a question whether Mr. Gandhi will concentrate only in Pilibhit or campaign for other candidates of the party as well, he said, "this depends on Varun Gandhi's comfort level and demands of the individual candidates...where ever he is needed."

"There are demands for him to campaign," Punj said when asked whether there have been demands from other constituencies for Mr. Varun to campaign.

Alleging that NSA was slapped against Mr. Gandhi due to political vendetta, he said, "we are confident that justice will be done when the second hearing of his case will start after 15 days."

Terming the step as "gross misuse of NSA against a political opponent", Mr. Punj said, "earlier also we did not have faith in the state government and our faith further decreased after invoking of NSA against Varun Gandhi"

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