Varun tortured in jail, says BJP

Alleging he was a victim of "vendetta politics", the Bharatiya Janata Party claimed on Friday that Varun Gandhi was tortured in jail, but he has emerged as a "strong man".

"Varun Gandhi is a victim of the vendetta politics of Sonia Gandhi and Mayawati in Uttar Pradesh. He was arrested and jailed under the National Security Act and i would say tortured. But, he has come out as a strong man," party spokesperson Balbir Punj told media-persons in Delhi on Friday.

Varun will file his nomination papers from Pilibhit on April 21," Punj, who briefed the media after holding discussions with Varun at his residence said, "Varun Gandhi has assured that he will continue to work for the party with the same energy and zeal despite all this".

The young leader will also campaign in other parts of the country for the party apart from his own constituency, Punj said. The BJP spokesperson also called upon his party colleagues and candidates to "show restraint" in their speeches. Varun, was released on a two-week parole by the Supreme Court after spending more than a week in Etah Jail after being booked under National Security Act by the Uttar Pradesh government for his alleged hate speeches.