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Mayawati defends use of stringent law to jail Varun
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday justified the use of the National Security Act (NSA) to jail Varun Gandhi, saying his actions were unpardonable.
- IANS
- Published: 22:46 April 4, 2009
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday justified the use of the National Security Act (NSA) to jail Varun Gandhi, saying his actions were unpardonable.
Mayawati warned that anyone indulging in similar acts would get the same treatment in her state. She also took on Maneka Gandhi, saying she should have brought up her son better.
Addressing a press conference, Mayawati said her government's decision to use the stringent NSA against Varun was "fully justified".
"I am fully justified in taking the most stern action against him because what he did was unpardonable, and anyone indulging in such acts, no matter how high and mighty, would receive the same treatment in my regime and will not be spared under any circumstances," said.
Varun Gandhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party's Pilibhit candidate, is in Etah jail following campaign speeches that spouted hatred and abusive language against Muslims. He has claimed that the speeches that have been widely aired on TV were doctored.
Unmarried Mayawati tore into Maneka for her remarks that only a mother could understand her feelings.
Terming Maneka's remarks "insinuating", the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief said: "Let me tell Maneka that even Mother Teresa did not have children but understood the feelings of millions of children.
"Rather than teaching her son some manners and telling him how to behave, she is going about defending him, which is condemnable."
Mayawati demanded Maneka apologise to her and the entire country for her remarks.
Citing rules of the jail administration, the authorities had asked Maneka to not meet her son in jail. Maneka responded saying that if Mayawati had been a mother she would have understood a mother's pain.
"I want to say that Maneka is mother of one (Varun), while I take care of hundreds and understand the pain of crores (millions) of mothers," Mayawati said.
BJP's general secretary Arun Jaitley demanded that the Uttar Pradesh government revoke the "vindictive" charges slapped on Varun.
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