New Delhi, Apr 11 : The Uttar Pradesh government and the Pilibhit District Magistrate on Saturday responded to the Supreme Court''s notice seeking to know the basis for invoking the National Security Act (NSA) against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi.

The state government, in its 35-page response to the apex court has denied Varun Gandhi''s charge that he was booked under the NSA due to a political conspiracy.

The state government and the District Magistrate of Pilibhit justified their decision of invoking the NSA against Gandhi by saying that the speech made by him in an election meeting in Pilibhit on March 6 had "communal overtones."

They also accused Varun Gandhi of creating "chaos" while surrendering before a court on March 28.

The state government said that the inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks made by Varun and the inappropriate manner in which he surrendered amount to the breach of public order warranting invocation of the National Security Act against him.

On April 2, Chief Justice K. G. Balakrishnan had sought an explanation for slapping of the NSA against Varun Gandhi.

Varun Gandhi had earlier moved the Supreme Court challenging the UP Government''s decision to slap the NSA against him.

Gandhi said the decision of invoking the NSA against him for his alleged hate speeches in Pilibhit was passed with political motivation and without following due procedure.

The petition filed through advocate Sandeep Kapoor said: "The entire attempt is a combined effort of the District Magistrate of Pilibhit and Uttar Pradesh Government to ensure that he (Varun Gandhi) is not able to contest and campaign for general elections scheduled for next month so as to sabotage his electoral debut". (ANI)