Varun Gandhi

Varun Gandhi's criticism of BJP govt cost him ticket, indicates Maneka

BJP leader Maneka Gandhi on Saturday indicated that her son Varun Gandhi's writings that were sometimes critical of the government may have cost him the party's Lok Sabha ticket from Pilibhit but asserted that he would do very well even without it. In an exclusive interview with PTI at her residence here, the former Union minister and BJP's Sultanpur candidate also said Varun Gandhi wants to come and campaign for her but a decision on that hasn't been taken yet. The Sultanpur seat in Uttar Pradesh goes to polls on May 25 in the sixth round of the seven-phase general elections. Polling was held in Pilibhit in the first phase on April 19. On Varun Gandhi being denied a ticket and if she felt bad as a mother, Maneka Gandhi said, "Well I can't say I was delighted but I am sure Varun will do very well even without a ticket." Asked about calls from Pilibhit that he should have been fielded from there this time also, she said, "Yes, he should have been there but the party has taken a ...

BJP's 2024 Lok Sabha elections approach: Political merit over cachet

But not all, some seats have been cherry-picked to assert the BJP's supremacy over its allies or, significantly, its leaders who charted an independent course in the recent past

Lok Sabha polls: Varun, Maneka Gandhi miss PM Modi's rally in Pilibhit

he mother-son duo were absent from the rally after they were not included in the list of star campaigners released by the party for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections

After son denied ticket, here's what Menaka Gandhi said about being in BJP

After the BJP denied a ticket to Varun Gandhi, his mother and BJP leader, Maneka Gandhi, expressed happiness to be a part of the party

LS elections: Varun Gandhi pens emotional note for Pilibhit after BJP snub

Gandhi was replaced with former Congress leader Jitin Prasada in the party's fifth list of candidates to contest from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit seat

LS elections: Congress invites Varun Gandhi to join the party post-BJP snub

In its fifth list of candidates released on Monday, the BJP replaced the sitting Pilibhit MP with ex-Congress MP Jitin Prasad for the upcoming elections

LS elections: Kangana to Varun Gandhi, key highlights of BJP's 5th list

Popular Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and famous TV personality Arun Govil were the surprise names among the nominations, while the BJP did not give Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi the ticket

Lok Sabha elections: Naveen Jindal, Kangana Ranaut on BJP's latest list

Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi has been replaced by Uttar Pradesh minister Jitin Prasada. However, Maneka Gandhi has been fielded again from Sultanpur

Rahul Gandhi meets his cousin, BJP MP Varun Gandhi, at Kedarnath Dham

They both were visiting Kedarnath and stayed at the guest house of the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee

Varun Gandhi files defamation suit against man for comment on Sanjay Gandhi

BJP leader Varun Gandhi on Saturday filed a defamation case in a local court here against a Varanasi man for allegedly making derogatory remarks on his father on Twitter. The Pilibhit MP on Saturday came to the court premises with three advocates around 3 pm and filed a defamation case before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (II) Abhinav Tiwari. The court recorded his statement and fixed April 25 as the next date for hearing, an advocate said. Gandhi in the complaint said that his father Late Sanjay Gandhi was a well known politician of the country and he was respected all over the country and still is today. He told the court that on March 29, 2023, Vivek Pandey, a resident of Bhojubir of Varanasi district, had made indecent remarks against Sanjay Gandhi through his social media Twitter @vivekkumar IND. According to Gandhi, the accused identified himself as the General Secretary of Nationalist Hindu and Kisan Morcha. Gandhi also said that he was informed about the tweet by t

FSSAI notification misguided effort to rate packaged foods: Varun Gandhi

FSSAI's nutrition-labelling draft notification is a misguided effort to rate Indian packaged foods with western options, says Varun Gandhi

Entered politics to become 'voice of the unheard', says Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday said he entered politics to become the "voice of people", especially those who could not raise their voice. The Pilibhit MP, who was here on a day-long visit, addressed a programme at Puranpur block and asserted that "honesty" and "cleanliness" are very much needed in politics. He also said that politics should be centred around a point that "one should raise the voice of those people who are not able to raise their voice".

Varun Gandhi says sugar mills should clear farmers' dues or face protest

BJP MP Varun Gandhi has asked sugar mills to clear dues they owe to farmers or be ready to face protests. At a public function in Arsiaboj village in Baheri assembly segment, which falls under his parliamentary constituency of Pilibhit, Gandhi said if sugar mills don't start paying dues to farmers immediately, a protest meet by cane-growers will be organised at their gates. He named two sugar mills in particular. He also raised questions over the unemployment scenario in the country. "One crore government posts are lying vacant, the government should fill these posts. We are ready to help," he said. The farmers also told the MP that stray animals were harming their crops. Gandhi responded by saying the government and the administration should solve this problem soon. He also said he was getting many complaints of police torture.

Govt not serious about tackling problem: Varun Gandhi on air quality

With the air quality in Delhi-NCT worsening, BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday questioned lack of "concern and coordination" among multiple government agencies in tackling the crisis. Neither government nor people are serious about this monstrous problem, he said in tweets, claiming that hospitals are full of patients with breathing, heart and lung problems. "Eight out of 10 children in Delhi-NCR have respiratory problems. After years of discussions, why is there a continuing lack of concern/coordination between multiple government entities," he asked. Gandhi wondered if the cost of solving the problem is higher than lifetime respiratory care for 46 million people. With the air quality deteriorating, the BJP and the AAP, which is in power in Delhi and Punjab where incidents of stubble burning have shot up, have blamed each other for the annual crisis.

Ground realities not visible from air: Varun Gandhi's swipe at UP govt

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at the Uttar Pradesh government for neither postponing the Preliminary Eligibility Test (PET) nor making "adequate transport arrangements" for students to reach exam centres in flood-affected areas of the state. "Ground realities are perhaps not visible from aerial surveys," he said, in an apparent dig at Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath who had recently surveyed the flood-hit areas. The Pilibhit MP said the state is in the "grip" of floods and over 37 lakh students are out to take the PET exam. For the students, reaching the examination centre is a bigger challenge than solving the question paper, he claimed. Gandhi said the PET was neither postponed nor adequate arrangements were made for the students to reach exam centres despite constant demands from them. He also posted pictures of railway stations and trains crowded with students.

UP: Kabaddi players served food stored in toilet, official suspended

Kabaddi players at a state-level tournament in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur were allegedly served food that was stored in a toilet, prompting the authorities to suspend the district sports officer for laxity and blacklisting the caterer. The incident drew criticism, with ruling BJP's Pilibhit MP Varun Gandhi asking if Indian sports should be cleansed of politicians and their representatives to reach its zenith. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too took a swipe at the incident, asking how Indian sportspersons would win gold at the Olympics if they are treated this way. A purported video of surfaced on social media. It showed the athletes who took part in the sub-junior girls' kabaddi tournament at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Stadium in Saharanpur being served rice and "poori" stored in the toilet. The tournament was hosted from September 16 to 18 in which over 300 players from 16 divisions of the state took part. Additional Chief Secretary (Sports) Navneet Sehgal told PTI that Saharanpur

Employment rate among youth at 5-year low: Varun Gandhi cites CMIE data

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Thursday cited the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) data to claim that employment rate among youths has a hit five-year low. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asked government departments to fill up 10 lakh job vacancies and added that none of them have been able to frame a solid plan so far. "How long the struggling youth will wait," he asked in a tweet. The CMIE data, he said, showed that the youth's employment rate has fallen to 10.4 per cent from 20.9 per cent earlier. The Pilibhit MP has been critical of the government on a host of issues, including its handling of the issue of employment. In June, Modi had asked various government departments and ministries to undertake the recruitment of 10 lakh people on a "mission mode" in the next year and a half. The direction from the prime minister had come following a review of the status of human resources in all government departments and ministries, the Prime Minister's Offi

Will continue fight against unemployment, inflation: BJP MP Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi on Sunday said he will continue his fight against unemployment, corruption and inflation until they cease to exist. In an apparent dig at his own party, Gandhi said he is working for an India where children and youth get respect, and where nobody is compelled to bow his head for help. "Until employment ceases to exist in this country and your children don't get jobs, my 'sangarsh' (fight) will continue. We will also continue our fight against corruption," he said at a programme here. "We will not allow the sacrifice of our ancestors go in vain. Time has come for the people to raise their voice against basic problems, injustice and corruption," he added. During his Pilibhit tour, Gandhi inaugurated an indoor sports hall constructed at a cost of Rs 8 crore and also interacted with members of the urban local body.

'Shameful' to extract price of 'Tiranga' from poor's food: Varun Gandhi

BJP MP Varun Gandhi alleged that ration card holders are being forced to buy the national flag

If Agniveers don't get pension, why should public representatives: Minister

Varun Gandhi has been questioning the 'Agnipath' scheme since it was unveiled on June 14 by the Centre