Gandhi family scion denies speech

Mr Gandhi denies the accusations made against him

A grandson of the late Indian PM Indira Gandhi has denied making an anti-Muslim speech during a recent election rally.

Varun Gandhi said he was a "victim of a political conspiracy" and that he never made the comments attributed to him.

Gandhi is alleged to have made the inflammatory remarks while campaigning as a candidate of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Three out of India's 14 prime ministers belong to the Nehru-Gandhi family, including the first, Jawaharlal Nehru.

'No question'

"I am a victim of political conspiracy. It was not my voice, not my words," Mr Gandhi told a press conference in the Indian capital, Delhi.

"There is no question of saying anything against any community. India is the home to all faiths and beliefs and I respect this," he said.

Mr Gandhi, a BJP candidate for the Pilibhit constituency in northern Uttar Pradesh state, said there had been several communal incidents in the area in the recent past.

"Thousands of Hindus have been placed under arrest. At least three temples have been vandalised.

"My attempt is to instil confidence in a community which feels it is under siege in their own country," he said.

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Varun Gandhi is the son of Sanjay Gandhi, Indira Gandhi's younger son who was killed in a plane crash.

Although he is a descendant of the influential Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, Varun Gandhi belongs to a side of the family that has disowned them.

Now a member of the Hindu nationalist BJP, he is making his political debut in next month's general election.

But an alleged campaign speech made on Sunday has got him into trouble with the country's independent election commission.

During his speech, which was videotaped and aired on television, Mr Gandhi is seen apparently making offensive remarks against Muslims.

Criminal charges have been filed against him after the election commission reviewed the footage.

The BJP has distanced itself from the remarks and says it will consider action if the charges are proved.

If convicted, Mr Gandhi could be disqualified from contesting the election and face imprisonment.