Police in northern India on Saturday arrested Varun Gandhi and sent him to judicial custoday Monday after he moved a surrender plea in a Pilibhit court, over allegations he made inflammatory comments against Muslims. Police fired in the air and baton-charged a crowd of at least 10,000 of Varun Gandhi's supporters shouting pro-Hindu slogans as he was arrested in his constituency in Uttar Pradesh, a crucial state in the April-May general election. The Chief Judicial Magistrate sent Varun Gandhi to judicial custody until the next hearing Monday, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kalraj Misra said, the Times of India reported. The court sentence came shortly after Varun, addressing the media outside the court, said that he was “ready to go to jail” for the people of Uttar Pradesh and the nation. Claiming that he was a victim of political conspiracy, Varun said, “This is a conspiracy in which I have been framed. I have full faith in the law and in the judiciary. I believe in my principles and I am willing to fight for them... I am ready to go to jail.” Around 50 BJP workers and saffron activists were detained on Saturday after they blocked roads and clashed with the police as Varun made his journey towards Pilibhit town. The 29-year-old Gandhi, who unlike most of his family chose not to join India's ruling Congress party, has said footage of his speech was doctored in a political conspiracy to tarnish his image. “I am ready to go to jail. And I have come here to boost the morale of my people,” Gandhi told his supporters before his arrest. “I believe in whatever I have said.” Many opinion polls show the BJP-led main opposition alliance trailing the Congress
