Uma invites Khurana to attend Delhi's Janadesh Rally

New Delhi, Mar 13 (UNI) Expelled BJP leader and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti has invited senior BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana to attend the March 21 Janadesh rally at Ramlila grounds.

In an open letter sent to Mr Khurana today, Ms Bharti said she regarded Mr Khurana at par with former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani in terms of stature and seniority.

The two leaders were helpless spectators when she was removed from the party unceremoniously.

Recalling Mr Khurana's contributions in building the BJP in Delhi and other states, the former M P Chief Minister said it was because of him that the BJP was able to come to power in Delhi and even the programmes initiated by him were followed by succesive governments including the present Congress administration.

There were hundreds of BJP workers and supporters who were committed to the party's ideology based on five tenets -- Swabhiman, Suraksha, Swadeshi, Shuchita and Suraj. The country could progress and become a developed nation if these principles were followed in letter and spirit in the deeds, she asserted.

She said she was also a witness to Mr Khurana's unstinted struggle for the redressal of problems of the people of Delhi. "You are not a leader of Delhi but a national leader," said.

Ms Bharti who is having a row with the BJP leadership.

"I invite you to attend the Janadesh Rally on March 21 and provide your valuable guidance," she said.

Mr Khurana, who too was expelled from the party for a brief while, on his part acknowledged receiving Ms Bharti's letter and said he would consider her invitation after consulting his supporters and colleagues.

One has to wait if Mr Khurana would be following several senior leaders including former Union Minister Chinmayanand Swamy and former Karnataka BJP President Basavaraj Patil who have openly aligned with Ms Bharti's Janadesh Yatra, a precursor to possible floating of her own political outfit.

UNI KAS MCN PK HT1947