Date:15/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/15/stories/2008071559941200.htm

National

Uma Bharti denies reports of her return to BJP

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Expelled BJP leader Uma Bharti, who formed the Bharatiya Jan Shakti Party, here on Monday denied all reports that she was a looking for a home-coming to her parent party.

In a written statement, Ms. Bharti asked Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani: “Will Mr. Advani be able to build a Ram temple in Ayodhya if he were to become Prime Minister? Will he able to give land to the Anmarnath Shrine Board without revoking Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir?”

She strongly criticised the BJP, especially targeting Mr. Advani, for ignoring the party ideology. “Mr. Advani offered the Prime Ministership to Mulayam Singh [Samajwadi Party President] in the run-up to the presidential election last year as admitted by BJP leader Jaswant Singh. Can Mr. Advani now face Ram devotees who died in police firing [ordered by Mr. Yadav as Chief Minister]? What kind of ideology can one expect from a person who pays his homage at the ‘mazaar’ of Mohammad Ali Jinnah.”

Although some senior BJP leaders have been talking about a rapprochement with her ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections, her remarks were seen as a signal that she was not yet ready to apologise and return to the party.