Varun Gandhi praises cousin Rahul Gandhi for 'development work' in Amethi

LUCKNOW/RAE BARELI: Though the two branches of the Nehru-Gandhi family are estranged from each other, they take care not to step on each other’s toes. On rare occasions, they may even display something resembling regard for each other. But Varun Gandhi’s praise for development work in Amethi, represented by cousin Rahul Gandhi, has embarrassed his party. The BJP, which has been attacking Rahul Gandhi’s track record, has sought to distance itself from Varun Gandhi’s remarks.

“I want to usher in a new form of politics,” Varun Gandhi said at a function on Tuesday attended by teachers and NGO activists while campaigning in his Sultanpur constituency. “We need small-scale industries for development, the kind of good work self-help groups set up by Rahulji have done in Amethi, though I have not seen the work personally.”

While the BJP leadership in Delhi wasn’t sure how to react to this, Congress V-P Rahul Gandhi was happy to acknowledge his cousin’s endorsement. “Varun sahi kah rahe hain (What Varun is saying is correct),” he told reporters as he accompanied his mother, party president Sonia Gandhi, to Rae Bareli for the filing of her nomination.

“We have been working continuously in Amethi according to a strategy. We have laid the foundation of an education hub in Amethi, established a food park to help farmers. What Varun is saying is right. I am happy that others are appreciating our good work,” he said.

As the issue made headlines, Varun Gandhi issued a statement to clarify his position. “(My) response to being asked whether I knew about the initiatives in Amethi, was that although I had not seen the work done by self help groups in Amethi, I had heard that it was fairly decent, and that I would stress on empowering people towards being self reliant. It should NOT be seen as an endorsement of any political party or candidate”.

He later told ET: “I think my remarks were misinterpreted. It is a baseless controversy and will die its own death. I would not like to add anything more to what I have already said through a media statement.”

Currently an MP from Pilibhit in the Terai region of UP, Varun’s decision to contest from Sultanpur this time was seen as an attempt to wade into a region identified as a Sonia-Rahul stronghold. Sultanpur abuts aunt Sonia’s Rae Bareli constituency and cousin Rahul’s Amethi seat in central Uttar Pradesh.