UAE | General
The son also rises
- Staff Report
- Published: 00:00 February 17, 2004
The BJP maybe all set to project Sanjay Gandhi's young son to counter his telegenic cousins Priyanka and Rahul Gandhi, but Feroze Varun Gandhi has made it clear he will neither campaign against his aunt (Sonia) or cousins, nor will he speak against them in public.
"I respect my aunt and my cousins and there is no question of criticising them," Varun Gandhi told journalists soon after he was welcomed into the BJP.
Seen as mature beyond his years, Varun said his aunt's foreign origin is an issue and that she will not be acceptable as the prime minister.
"The foreign origin is an issue but there are many other issues besides it that could be taken up during the poll campaign," Varun said.
"My family has been part of the Congress and has led it through its most glorious era. I do believe, however, that what my family was true to was not a party but a value system, a tradition of self-sacrifice, national pride and independence of spirit. I will remain loyal to those ideals," Varun told the media.
On his own Gandhi cachet he said, "You sink or swim in politics due to your ability and not due to your dynasty," Varun said.
"The philosophy of the Gandhi family is nationalism, integrity, hard work and working for the poor. The BJP is the only party that can offer that opportunity, it's a big hearted party," he added.
He said his grandmother Indira Gandhi, who threw his mother out of the family household when Varun was barely two was his ideal.
Varun strongly justified his decision to join the BJP saying it was time for every right-thinking Indian to strengthen it since it has proven its ability to lead the country forward.
Varun termed the BJP a secular party and praised Vajpayee and Advani as mature forward-looking leaders, emphasising that the country needed experienced leaders like them.
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