MP Maneka Gandhi defends son Varun's comments praising cousin

The MP advised Varun Gandhi to use his mind instead of heart while making statements. She also stressed that the development work has not taken place in Amethi in the last 45 years. She quipped, "I have told Varun not to comment on anything he hasn't seen for himself. What Varun has said is wrong." She added, "I have myself gone to Amethi and there is no development there. Nobody should comment on something unless you have seen it with your own eyes. Some people might have told him that good work has been done in Amethi."

However, in a defending tone, Maneka clarified her son's statements saying, "He is an innocent person...his heart is clean...He would have asked about the work done in Amethi and must have been told that the whatever happened there is good." She said that she had spoken to Varun in this regard as whatever he said on development in Amethi was "not correct".

After making the statement on Tuesday, Varun also did a U-turn saying he wasn’t endorsing any political party or leaders.

Responding to Varun's comments, Rahul Gandhi said, "I am very happy that others are appreciating the work being done in Amethi... doing as per a strategy, connecting farmers to the world, and will continue to work in the field of agriculture, education." He interacted with reporters after his mother and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi filed her nomination paper from Rae Bareli.