New Delhi, Mar 28: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi left for Pilibhit early Saturday to court arrest there.

On Friday, Varun Gandhi withdrew his anticipatory bail application from the Delhi High Court. The court had granted him anticipatory bail on March 20.

Varun took the decision to withdraw the bail application after the Allahabad High Court on Wednesday rejected his petition seeking quashing of two FIRs registered against him for his speeches in Pilibhit on March 7 and 8.

New Delhi, Mar 27 : Many members of the Sikh community here took to streets on Friday to protest against the alleged objectionable remarks made by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Varun Gandhi.

Varun Gandhi, who is the BJP's candidate from the Pilibhit Constituency, had allegedly used derogatory words against his Sikh opponent belonging to the Congress.

The activists of National Akali Dal (NAD) and Shiromani Akali Dal Khalsa (SADK) said that if BJP does not take stern action against Gandhi, the Sikh community would boycott the party.

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New Delhi - A minister in India's western Gujarat state who is accused of involvement in 2002 sectarian riots surrendered to the police and resigned from her post on Friday.

Maya Kodnani is accused of leading rioting mobs in the Naroda Patiya area of Gujarat's principle city Ahmedabad where 106 people were killed during the violence in 2002.

More than 1000 people, largely Muslims, were killed in statewide riots sparked by the burning of Hindu pilgrims on a train on February 27, 2002.

New Delhi, Mar 27 : Former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has been chosen to receive the prestigious 2008 Hoover Medal for his outstanding service to humanity.

The announcement to this effect was made in New York on Friday. The citation said that the award would be presented to Dr. Kalam at a special ceremony on April 28.