BJP rules out Uma Bharti's return

Bhopal, Feb 23 (UNI) The BJP today ruled out expelled leader Uma Bharti's return to the party, saying it was a closed chapter.

''There is no question of reconsidering BJP Parliamentary Board's decision to expel her from the party for indiscipline,'' BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

Justifying the suspension of four Uma Bharti loyalist MLAs on the charge of indiscipline, he said further action would be taken against them if they did not reply in time.

Commenting on party MLA Gauri Shankar Shejwar's plea to take back Ms Bharti into the party, Mr Javadekar said the party's state unit would look into it. ''If any report was submitted to the party's central committee in this regard, it would be considered accordingly.'' Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Babulal Gaur today advised Dr Shejwar not to cross the ''Laxman Rekha,'' as otherwise the party would be forced to take disciplinary action against him.

''Dr Shejwar's comment about lack of democracy in BJP was baseless. Democratic functioning was evident at all level'', he told reporters here. Dr Shejwar was on the brink of crossing the 'Laxman Rekha,'' he added.

Mr Gaur also reiterated that Ms Bharti's return to the BJP was a closed chapter.

UNI SP-PKJ RR RK1548