Date:13/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/13/stories/2006091312630400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

`Prevent Uma Bharti from attending yatra'

Staff Reporter

Bangalore: Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh has challenged Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy to prevent the former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti from attending the `Shobha Yatra' at Bababudangiri (Datta Peetha) in Chikmagalur district in December if he had any concern for maintaining communal harmony.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, Mr. Singh urged the Chief Minister not to buckle under pressure from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Bajrang Dal and Hindu Rakshana Sena chief Pramod Mutalik, who were organising the yatra. He said the Chief Minister would have to repent if he allowed Ms. Bharti to attend the event and make provocative speeches.

Mr. Singh said the controversy over the Hubli Idgah Maidan, in which Ms. Bharti had a role, had not been solved yet, but the VHP and the BJP had already raised the Datta Peetha issue.

Mr. Singh dismissed as a gimmick the Chief Minister staying overnight at the house of a Dalit in Mysore district.

If he was sincere about Dalit welfare, he should release Rs. 24 crore towards fees and Rs. 15 crore for scholarships for Dalit students in professional colleges, he said.