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Revoke NSA against Varun: Advisory Board

Atiq Khan

Uttar Pradesh to move Supreme Court

— Photo: AFP

Varun Gandhi.

LUCKNOW: The State Advisory Board of the Allahabad High Court on Friday recommended the revocation of the National Security Act (NSA) slapped on Bharatiya Janata Party’s Pilibhit candidate Varun Gandhi. It found that there was no prima facie reason for booking him under the Act.

The Uttar Pradesh government, soon after, decided to challenge the recommendation, which came after 10 days of in camera hearing by the Advisory Board here.

The Secretary, Information, Diwakar Tripathi, told The Hindu that the necessary legal formalities were over and a plea is likely to be filed in the Supreme Court on Saturday.

The Advisory Board came out with the recommendation after conducting in camera proceedings with Mr. Gandhi on April 28. The hearing lasted for about 90 minutes.

Headed by Justice Pradeep Kant of the Lucknow Bench of the High Court, it had Justice (retd.) P.K. Sareen and Justice (retd.) S.N. Sahay as its members.

Mr. Gandhi is now on parole till May 14, which was granted to him by the Supreme Court.

He reportedly told the board that he was a victim of “political vendetta.”

The NSA was slapped on Mr. Gandhi on March 29 following large-scale violence by his supporters on March 28 in Pilibhit after his arrest on charge of delivering hate and inflammatory speeches in a couple of elections meetings in the parliamentary constituency.

Pilibhit goes to the polls with 13 other seats in Uttar Pradesh in the fifth and final phase of general election on May 13.

Mr. Gandhi welcomed the Advisory’s Board’s recommendation, but maintained that the Mayawati dispensation and the Centre have to answer for his “wrongful detention for 20 days.” He added that he always had faith in the judiciary and democracy.

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