Mumbai, Mar 25 : Bharatiya Janata Party candidate for the Pilibhit constituency Varun Gandhi, who has been accused of making inflammatory anti-Muslim remarks, has thanked Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray for supporting him for his speech.

"I am overwhelmed by his support. I am grateful to him and thank him," party mouthpiece ''Saamna'' on Wednesday quoted Varun as saying.

The Election Commission had issued a notice to Gandhi, charging him of violating the Model Code of Conduct for elections by making communal remarks at an election meeting in Pilibhit on March 6.

Gandhi also came under fire from the Congress and some of his own party leaders for purportedly insulting the minority community.

However, Thackeray backed Varun and said that the young leader did not say anything wrong that would violate the model code of conduct.

Thackeray said his party would welcome such a Gandhi, as the young gun was full of Hindutva spirit.

"He is one Gandhi we like... There is no need for Varun to apologise for his remarks... Varun has spoken out the truth," Thackeray had said in an editorial in the newspaper, of which he is the editor. (ANI)