Varun Gandhi says video was 'doctored'
Under all-round attack over his anti-Muslim speeches, BJP Lok Sabha candidate Varun Gandhi yesterday said the video footage was "doctored" and a "political conspiracy" has been hatched to malign him.
"I have been a victim of a political conspiracy. Those are not my words and that is not my voice. I have not made any communal statement," Varun, a scion of the estranged Gandhi family and a saffron party candidate from Pilibhit, told reporters in New Delhi.
Varun said the tape has been doctored and it was a "malicious attempt" to brand him communal.
"It has been doctored. It has been a malicious attempt to brand me as communal. There is no question of my having any ill feeling towards (any) community," he said.
Varun also wondered why the CD was made public on March 16 whereas he made the speech on March 5.
"The CD was supposed to be made on March 5, why was it released on 16th. Where was it for 12 days, who has made it," he asked.
The 29-year-old BJP candidate, making his electoral debut, said nothing "I have ever said has been intended to incite hatred. I am pro India and not anti-anybody."
"I am proud of my faith and not apologetic about it. I am a Gandhi, a Hindu and an India in the equal measure," he said.
Varun said he has been attempting to restore confidence in a community that has been "under siege" and asked the nation to stand by him.
"My attempt has been to restore confidence in a community that has been under siege in its own country," he said, adding "I want to ask the nation to stand by me."
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