Advani asks Varun Gandhi to exercise restraint

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi Saturday met the party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, who advised him to exercise restraint during the poll campaign, a party leader said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi Saturday met the party's prime ministerial candidate L K Advani, who advised him to exercise restraint during the poll campaign, a party leader said.

HT Image

"He had just come to seek Advaniji's blessings and express his gratitude to him and the party for supporting him during the crisis. Advaniji enquired from Varun about his campaign and advised him to exercise restraint during his speeches," a senior BJP leader said on condition of anonymity.

Varun Gandhi met Advani at the latter's residence here.

"Advaniji also adviced Varun to keep the promise he made to the Supreme Court in his undertaking," the leader added.

Varun Gandhi was charged under the National Security Act (NSA) and arrested March 28 for purportedly delivering campaign speeches that vilified Muslims. On Thursday, the Supreme Court released him on a two-week parole after he gave an undertaking that he would not deliver hate speeches.

BJP president Rajnath Singh has already welcomed Varun Gandhi's release and said that he would "certainly" campaign for the party.

Varun Gandhi will file his nomination from Uttar Pardesh's Pilibhit constituency April 21. He has challenged his booking under the NSA.