In sharp escalation of their war of words, Priyanka Gandhi fired yet another salvo at Varun Gandhi saying the Lok Sabha elections is “an ideological war” and that his actions amounted to “betrayal” of the family.
The passage at arms between the two cousins occurred early in the morning from across nearby towns in the midst of electioneering as Varun filed his nomination from Sultanpur constituency.
Varun also hit back at her accusing her of “crossing limits of decency” and said that one cannot raise one’s stature by belittling somebody.
“This is not a family tea party. It is an ideological war. I believe anybody, no matter how close they are, own blood relations…If they are going to be on that side of the ideological divide.
“He had expressed his views in the last elections and I do not agree with them at all. I strongly disagree with them.
It is a betrayal of my family. My father died for the unity of this country. I cannot disregard it for anybody even if it is my own child,” Priyanka told reporters in Amethi, where she was campaigning for her brother Rahul.
She was apparently referring to the controversy Varun had created in the last elections when he addressed an election rally in Pilibhit constituency which was widely denounced as a hate speech.
A couple of days earlier she had remarked that Varun had gone “astray” and should be shown the right path.
Varun also gave back in some measure to Priyanka suggesting that she crossed the “lakshman rekha of decency” and noted that his “decency and large-heartedness” should not be construed as a weakness by anyone.
Breaking his silence over cousin Priyanka’s remark that he has gone “astray”, Varun said nobody can raise one’s stature by belittling somebody.