NEW DELHI - THE grandson of late Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi came under fire Tuesday for allegedly inciting violence against Muslims in comments that highlighted the country's religious tensions.

Varun Gandhi, who is campaigning for next month's general elections, reportedly told a rally that his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would 'cut the head of Muslims.'

According to footage aired by the NDTV news channel, Varun Gandhi also told a rally that Muslims 'have scary names like Karimullah, Mazullah' and that 'if you meet them at night you will be scared.' India's Election Commission said it would review Varun's speeches before taking action.

Muslims make up India's largest minority community, and relations with majority Hindus have been troubled and often violent since Indian secured independence from Britain in 1947.

Varun's comments were criticised by the ruling Congress party, which is headed by Sonia Gandhi, the widow of Indira's eldest son Rajiv, and the torch bearer of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

Varun is the son of Indira's second child Sanjay, a side of the family that was disowned by the dynasty. The Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has no blood relation to Mahatma Gandhi, the icon of India's independence movement.

A Congress spokesman accused the BJP of being a party with an anti-minority ideology.

A BJP spokesman, however, insisted that 'the traditional culture of BJP can never teach a person to speak so irresponsibly.' In his defence, Varun said the recordings of his speeches had been tampered with.

India goes to the polls to elect a new parliament and government from April 16 to May 13. -- AFP