‘Charge Varun for hate speech’

LUCKNOW: The Pilibhit district court on Tuesday ordered framing of charges against BJP MP Varun Gandhi in connection with an alleged hate speech made by him during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Fixing July 6, 2011, as the next date for hearing, chief judicial magistrate Ajay Krishna also ordered the prosecution to produce witnesses.

The order raises worries for Varun and the BJP in the run-up to 2012 assembly elections .

The BJP has been trying to set aside its allegedly communal tint. With the court proceedings underway, the party may have to rethink over showcasing Varun as a mascot of firebrand politics in its UP campaign.

Testing the political waters in the general elections for the first time in 2009, Varun contested from Pilibhit, a seat vacated by his mother Maneka Gandhi. Unsure of the poll results, particularly after delimitation of constituencies which led to shifting of traditional vote bank from one seat to another , Varun allegedly used the communal card to polarize the electorate and ensure his victory.