Indira grandson avoids arrest over Muslim hate speech

21 Mar, 2009

An Indian court on Friday granted -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. 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.

Read Comments