NSA against Varun invalid: UP advisory board

NEW DELHI: The UP advisory board said on Friday that the use of the National Security Act against BJP leader Varun Gandhi, invoked for his alleged communal remark, was not valid.

"NSA invoked against the BJP leader Varun Gandhi has been held invalid by the board," UP home secretary Javed Ahmad said, PTI reported.

Varun had appeared in person before the advisory board on April 28 and explained that the CD on the basis of which an FIR was lodged against him was doctored.

29-year-old Varun, who is on parole granted by the Supreme Court, was detained under the NSA on March 28 on charges of inciting communal passion by making provocative and inflammatory speeches during election meetings in Pilibhit on March seven and eight.

The Mayawati government will now examine the board's decision before taking a view on whether or not to drop the charges under NSA against Varun.

The panel, which met on Friday, was not convinced by the material provided by the Pilibhit district magistrate.

Varun alleged that NSA was invoked against him with a political motive to sabotage his electoral debut but this was refuted by the UP government.

The board said it did not find "plausible and convincing" grounds for the NSA being invoked against Varun nor was it satisfied by the explanation given by the Pilibhit DM.

FIRs were registered against Varun for allegedly delivering inflammatory speeches in Dalchand locality of Pilibhit, about 300 km from Lucknow on March 7 and in Barkheda village on March 8.

Source : Times Of India