4 Apr 2009,
NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday hit out at Pilibhit MP Maneka Gandhi for politicising the Varun Gandhi row.
Maneka, who was denied permission to meet her son Varun Gandhi in Etah jail on Friday, had criticized BSP supreme and UP Chief Minister. She had called the restriction as "frivolous" and "result of political vendetta".
Slamming Maneka for her remarks, Mayawati said in a press conference, "I will not allow anyone, not even the members of Gandhi family to break the law."
"Maneka had said that Mayawati cannot understand the pain of a mother. I just want to tell her that she is the mother of just one son, but I take care of hundreds of people," Mayawati said.
The BSP chief added, "It is not necessary to be a mother to be loving and caring. Maneka should seek pardon from me for what she said yesterday."
After initial dithering, the state government on Friday had allowed Pilibhit MP Maneka Gandhi to meet her son and incarcerated BJP LS candidate from Pilibhit Varun Gandhi in Etah district jail. She is expected to call on Varun on Saturday.
It all began on Friday morning when Maneka Gandhi reportedly informed the Etah district administration about her plans to visit Varun in jail. Her request, however, was turned down by the jail authorities who cited provisions of the Jail Manual and the National Security Act under which Varun has been detained.
As per the Manual and the Act, any detenue is allowed only two meetings with the outsiders per week. Any further meeting by anyone is subject to an official written clearance from the office of the DM concerned. As Varun has already had his quota of meetings, including ones with his mother, aunt and some senior BJP leaders including Venkaiah Naidu, the jail authorities decided to decline Maneka’s request on Friday morning.
However, the issue gained momentum when Maneka, in a statement to a news channel called the restriction as "frivolous" and "result of political vendetta".
In no mood to grant the saffronites a political mileage, the state government on Friday evening issued a written clarification stating that no restrictions whatsoever have been imposed on Maneka meeting her son.
The communique also stated that the Etah DM has been entrusted with the authority of granting permission to the visitors according to his discretion.
Shortly after the order was issued, the office of Etah DM Gaurav Dayal informed Maneka that she may meet Varun on Saturday. Dayal's office also confirmed to TOI that Maneka was slated to visit Varun on Saturday.
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