Varun vows not to make hate speeches

New Delhi: A day after being released from jail on parole, Bharatiya Janata Party's Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi, said on Friday that he had never advocated violence in politics but would continue to raise his voice against "anti-national forces".

Varun, charged under the National Security Act (NSA) for purportedly delivering campaign speeches that vilified Muslims, was released on two-weeks' parole by the Supreme Court Thursday after he gave an undertaking that he would not deliver hate speeches.

He reached the national capital Thursday night by a chartered plane from Agra, but did not speak to the media.

"Let me make it clear I do not and never have advocated violence as a tool in politics. What I have advocated, and firmly stand by is that all Indians should unite to face the threat of terrorism from neighbouring countries. We need to rise and face this menace boldly and I shall continue to raise my voice against anti-national forces," a statement released here yesterday quoted him as saying.

He also welcomed the Supreme Court decision.

"I welcome this relief by the Supreme Court and look forward to shortly being fully vindicated by the highest court of the land in regard to this illegal detention. I should also like to answer all the other false charges being made against me," he said in the statement.

The BJP leader also said that his family has always been strengthened by times of adversity.

The BJP yesterday claimed that Varun was tortured in jail, but had emerged as a "strong man."