Maneka Gandhi refuses to comment on son Varun

Maneka Gandhi, mother of Varun Gandhi who has created a furore for his hate campaign against Muslims in Pilibhit, refused to comment on the swirling controversy.

Maneka Gandhi, mother of Varun Gandhi who has created a furore for his hate campaign against Muslims in Pilibhit, refused to comment on Tuesday on the swirling controversy.

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"I don't want to say anything," Gandhi, who is five time MP from Pilibhit, told IANS.

The 29-year-old son of Maneka and the late Sanjay Gandhi - younger son of former prime minister Indira Gandhi - was on Sunday issued a notice by the district authorities in Pilibhit, the constituency in Uttar Pradesh so carefully nurtured by his mother who gave up the seat to ensure his easy entry into the Lok Sabha.

Varun, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate, created a storm by adopting a fanatical pro-Hindu stance and threatening to cut off the hands of Muslims who raise a "hand against Hindus".

His speeches, that have been given widely publicity in the media, has led to even the BJP distancing itself from him, with a party spokesman saying the BJP believed in religous harmony and national unity.

The Election Commission directed Uttar Pradesh's chief electoral officer (CEO) to file a criminal case against Gandhi after Congress lodged a protest with the poll panel.