OFBJP condemns the arrest of Varun Gandhi under NSA

International Director Beverly Stebbins honoring Austin Prabhu of Chicagoland

NEW YORK: The Overseas friends of BJP (USA) has expressed deep anguish and outrage over the arrest of Varun Gandhi, a Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for Parliament in the forthcoming general elections, and son of Maneka Gandhi, under the National Security Act (NSA).

Gandhi has been accused of making hate speeches while campaigning, which the Election Commission has found to be a violation of the Election Code of Conduct. "The decision of Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh to slap NSA against Varun Gandhi raised many eyebrows in the Indian American community as NSA legislation was enacted to curb terrorism but not to use that against political opponents," an OFBJP statement said.

 "While terrorist addresses are leading the police to Azamgarh district of Uttar Pradesh neither Mayawati government nor Congress party headed UPA government at the Center ever booked a terrorist under NSA. However, Congress and Mayawati who are in the competition for garnering minority votes have decided to apply that law against a budding young politician. This harmful vendetta politics is highly deplorable and it reminds every one of the draconian Emergency days when innocent people were detained without any bail or case for several months."

"It is a shame that the UPA government doesn't have the courage to act against jehadi terrorism but has the audacity to persecute a young and dynamic leader of BJP over his alleged utterances against the minority community. This is pure vote-bank politics fostering all out minority appeasement.

History has taught us again and again that whenever there was a misuse of power by an authority, that authority was punished severely by the public and Congress and Mayawati are no exception," the statement said.

The OFBJP and Indian Diaspora supporting the NDA (A BJP-led coalition of parties) expressed their solidarity and support for Menaka Gandhi, also a BJP leader. "We are sure that the duo will come out unscathed and stronger after this episode and will register a landslide victory in the elections from their respective constituencies in Uttar Pradesh," the overseas wing of the BJP said.