BJP distances itself from allegations against Varun Gandhi

It has been alleged that Gandhi leaked defence secrets to arms middleman Abhishek Verma

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on Friday, indicated that party Lok Sabha member Varun Gandhi will need to fend for himself as far as allegations against him were concerned. Government sources said it could order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the issue raised by Swaraj Abhiyan on alleged leak of defence secrets.

"He (Gandhi) has issued a clarification. There is no need to offer further comments," BJP national secretary Shrikant Sharma said.

Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav-led Swaraj Abhiyan had on Thursday alleged that Gandhi had leaked defence secrets to arms middleman Abhishek Verma.

Gandhi has vehemently denied the allegations. "I am going to turn 37 now. I have never met him since I entered public life in 2004. The only reason why I even know of him is because his parents were members of Parliament and was a respected family. I knew them as many other leaders knew them," he said.

BJP leaders and spokespersons, however, didn't want to be drawn into the controversy. Sources said that not all was well between Gandhi and the BJP leadership.