"We back Varun, who is being harassed and tortured by the state government. Let the law take it own course. But we want to make it clear we will support Varun politically and legally," Rajnath Singh told reporters after meeting Varun Gandhi, the BJP’s likely candidate from Pilibhit constituency of the state. The young BJP nominee is behind bars for his alleged inflammatory speeches. The Uttar Pradesh government slapped the National Security Act (NSA) against him for inciting racial hatred and mob violence in Pilibhit before his arrest March 29. The nationalist politician is also at the centre of raging controversy in British Columbia over his party’s plans to bring him to Metro Vancouver for a meet and greet with local supporters April 10 and 11. The 29-year-old BJP nominee, heir to India’s Gandhi-Nehru dynasty, is accused of "promoting enmity" and acts "prejudicial to maintenance of harmony" after singling out minority Muslims in recent campaign speeches. The incident has become the hot-button issue in the lead up to general elections this month and next in the world’s largest democracy. BJP party officials in B.C. remain confident that Gandhi, who could be held for a year under the NSA, will be freed and able to make good on a commitment to meet with Non-Resident Indian supporters in Greater Vancouver. The proposed visit by Varun Gandhi to B.C., timed to coincide with local Vasaikhi celebrations, has raised the ire of local Indians who believe those who would wave a divisive flag of nationalistic, anti-minority sentiment in India have no place in Canada. 
The BJP’s Rajnath Singh in India alleged that Varun had been falsely implicated.
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