11-01-2003, 12:38 AM
[url="http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_441671,000600010001.htm"]Varun in Indira Gandhi prayer meet row [/url]
PTI and HTC
New Delhi, October 31
Feroze Varun Gandhi, son of former Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, claimed on Friday that the Delhi Police prevented him from entering Shakti Sthal to pay his respects to grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary. The police have denied the charge.
Varun, son of Maneka Gandhi, has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit demanding an apology as her government was the official host of the memorial service.
"In spite of having passes for myself and a group of people, we were harassed and physically prevented from entering by the police," said Varun.
A Delhi Police spokesman said Varun arrived along with 70-80 supporters and insisted that all of them be allowed to enter the memorial site through a special gate. On the intervention of senior police officials, Varun and nine others were allowed to enter.
After the entry, Varun was asked to leave the people accompanying him behind while he was allowed to proceed to the special enclosure. But Varun insisted that his men would sit with him. On being denied permission, he quietly left the venue, said the spokesman.
Varun's aunt Ambika Shukla said that the incident betrayed the "petty-mindedness and insecurity" of the Congress under Sonia Gandhi. "He was told that since Sonia was at the venue, his followers could not be allowed in," she said.
PTI and HTC
New Delhi, October 31
Feroze Varun Gandhi, son of former Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi, claimed on Friday that the Delhi Police prevented him from entering Shakti Sthal to pay his respects to grandmother and former prime minister Indira Gandhi on her death anniversary. The police have denied the charge.
Varun, son of Maneka Gandhi, has written a letter to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit demanding an apology as her government was the official host of the memorial service.
"In spite of having passes for myself and a group of people, we were harassed and physically prevented from entering by the police," said Varun.
A Delhi Police spokesman said Varun arrived along with 70-80 supporters and insisted that all of them be allowed to enter the memorial site through a special gate. On the intervention of senior police officials, Varun and nine others were allowed to enter.
After the entry, Varun was asked to leave the people accompanying him behind while he was allowed to proceed to the special enclosure. But Varun insisted that his men would sit with him. On being denied permission, he quietly left the venue, said the spokesman.
Varun's aunt Ambika Shukla said that the incident betrayed the "petty-mindedness and insecurity" of the Congress under Sonia Gandhi. "He was told that since Sonia was at the venue, his followers could not be allowed in," she said.