Varun wants to revive Sanjay's sterilisation policy

BJP candidate from Pilibhit Lok Sabha constituency Varun Gandhi favours revival of his father Sanjay Gandhi's controversial sterilisation policy and wants ''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 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.

As he toured his constituency in a convoy accompanied by armed guards, he made a clear reference to his controversial stand when he told voters that he was "fighting for your self-respect".