New Delhi, May 10: British newspaper `Daily
Telegraph`, which created a stir Saturday by reporting that
Varun Gandhi intends to follow his father`s population control
measures, has clarified that he favours a "softer approach" to
family planning.
The paper`s South Asia Editor, Dean Nelson, who
interviewed the BJP candidate in Pilibhit Lok Sabha
constituency, has said that Gandhi told him that he wants to
take up the issue of population control but that he believes
the earlier policy was implemented in a roughshod manner.
He favours a softer approach of positive incentives
such as financial benefits for those who choose to have
smaller families, Nelson said in his clarification.
The newspaper also amended its earlier report on the
website quoting Gandhi as saying that while the methods used
by the government at that time were "roughshod" and considered
by many to be "too forceful", he believed India`s population
required urgent action.
Bureau Report
