Priyanka, Varun engage in war of words

Kid gloves are off as the Gandhis are caught in a war of  words after Priyanka said that lok Sabha election was an ideological war, not a tea party, and that her cousin Varun had betrayed the family. 

Rebuttal came from Varun who said that "his silence should not be taken as weakness".It is the second time that members of the Gandhi family are caught in a war of words in the last four days and, probably, the first time when two cousins of the Gandhi dynasty are caught in a verbal duel."Varun ne pariwar ke saath vishwasghat kiya hai (Varun has betrayed the Gandhi family)," Priyanka told reporters at Fursatganj airport in Amethi on Tuesday. She had arrived there to campaign for her brother Rahul Gandhi who is contesting from Amethi.

The barbs were sharp and pointed towards Varun who filed his nomination from neighouring constituency of Sultanpur. She said: "This is not a family tea party. It is an ideologicalwar. Would not have forgiven my child, had he done something like this," she said.Priyanka made these statements an hour after Varun gave a reply to Priyanka’s"astray" remarks. 

"I have always practised politics of decorum. I have always viewed others with respect. In the past decade whether there had been a member of my family or a senior leader of 

any political party, I never crossed the lakshman rekha of decency in my speeches," Varun said.Before filing his nominations, Varun issued a statement in which he had stated: "In the last few days, statements have been made and all I would like to say is that my decency and large-heartedness should not be taken as weakness by anyone."

"There has been talk of my path. I always considered the nation’s path as more important than my own. In my lifetime, if I ever constructively contribute towards nation’s welfare, I will consider my life meaningful. I have always practised the politics of principles centred around important issues," he added.The BJP general secretary said: " It is my request to all that instead of personal attack, we debate on unemployment, corruption, poverty and illiteracy. let’s us try to raise the level of discourse rather than lowering it. When we practise politics centered round personal criticism, we deviate from crucial issue of our time. If India has to move towards the politics of hope, we have all have to raise the level of debate."

The two Gandhi families were locked in a war of words after Priyanka Gandhi said her cousin Varun Gandhi had gone "astray" and advised voters in Sultanpur not to vote for him. 

Priyanka’s tirade came even as Varun sought to praise her brother Rahul for doing "good work" in his Amethi constituency. BJP’s Sultanpur lok Sabha candidate’s appreciation was then reciprocated by Rahul by expressing his "happiness" over the comments.Varun’s mother and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi, however, chastised Priyanka, saying the country would decide who had gone on the wrong path.

Priyanka said she was "not upset" over the leak of the video in which she had spoken about Varun and maintained that those were her views. She said she did not speak to Varun after her remarks were leaked.