Maneka not allowed to meet Varun

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Maneka Gandhi was today denied permission to meet her son Varun, detained under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) at the Etah jail, prompting her to say that had Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati been a mother she would have understood her agony.

District Magistrate Gaurav Dayal said that Maneka had sought permission to meet her 29-year-old son but citing rules he had told her that she can only meet him after April 8.

“She was not allowed to met Varun as NSA detainees are allowed such a meeting only twice a week,” Dayal said.

Varun has been lodged at the Etah jail since Wednesday.

Asked whether any special facilities were being provided to Varun, who had complained of rough treatment at the jail, the DM said if any such application is moved to him he would consider it.

Varun, the BJP candidate from Pilibhit who landed in trouble with his anti-Muslim speeches during campaigning, is being kept “alone in a cell due to security reasons”, the DM said, adding “he is a prisoner and is being kept as a prisoner”.

Maneka said she was fed up with the injustice being meted out to a “young man”.

“If Mayawati herself was a mother she would understand but this is unfair and illegal,” Maneka said playing an emotive card.