09 May,2009 03:33 PM IST | | Agencies
Varun Gandhi, whose hate speeches had landed him in jail, has stirred further controversy by favouring revival of his father Sanjay Gandhi's compulsory sterilisation policy. The BJP candidate from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency also favoured compulsory military service for all Indians.
In an interview to The Daily Telegraph, Varun said he hoped to follow in his father's footsteps by offering strong leadership which, according to him, India lacked for 20 years. Politics, the 29-year-old fire-brand BJP leader said, was his destiny, and added: "Anyone who says they have no ambition to achieve power at some stage is lying."
Besides reviving the forced sterilisation policy, Varun said he would also propose a bill in parliament to introduce compulsory military service for all Indians to unite the country and overcome caste and religious differences.
"Instead of people thinking of themselves as Tamils or Brahmins, they should think of themselves as Indians,"he said. Referring to his recent controversial remarks, Varun denied threatening Muslims, but had vowed to protect local people from anti-social elements after three local girls were reportedly gang-raped.