'Doesn't reduce stature': Maneka Gandhi plays down non-inclusion in BJP top body

Playing down her non-inclusion in the overhauled BJP national executive, Maneka Gandhi has said she was satisfied to be in the party for 20 years and that her non-inclusion in the top panel does not reduce her stature.

She pointed out that there are other senior leaders who also have not got a place in the executive committee. "New people should also get an opportunity," she added.

Maneka, who is known to be sympathetic to farmers' protests against the Centre's farm laws -- and her son Varun Gandhi were dropped from the national executive days after the Pilibhit MP's pointed criticism of the events of Lakhimpur Kheri.

Earlier, Varun Gandhi had also brushed off the omission, saying he had not attended any meeting of the executive committee in five years.

Varun Gandhi had labelled the Lakhimpur incident as "murder" and demanded accountability. He also wrote to UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, asking for a CBI probe and ₹ 1 crore compensation for the families of the dead farmers.

Watch: 3 day police custody for Ashish Mishra in Lakhimpuri Case