While in power BJP made Ayodhya a joke: Uma

Varanasi, May 4 (UNI) Claiming tht the Ayodhya issue was an mere 'ideological joke' for the BJP while in power at the centre, Bharatiya Janashakti Party president Uma Bharti today dared her parent party to hold a televised debate with her on all national issues.

Addressing a news conference here, Ms Bharti claimed during the NDA regime, top BJP leaders took party's core issues including Ayodhya, repeal of IMDT Act and ban on cow-slaughter as a ''prank.'' ''Once out of power, they have again started speaking about allegiance to these issues.'' The time is ripe for BJP leaders to ''come clean'' on all issues including Ayodhya, through a televised national debate with her, she added.

''I challenge all BJP leaders to debate with me on what they did while in power with their main issues,'' the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said.

Flanked by former union minister Swami Chinmayanand and her party treasurer Anita Singh, the repelled BJP leader reiterated there was no question of going back to the BJP, but said an alliance with the parent party was still possible if the latter wanted to prevent an ideological clash.

''Any prospect of going back to BJP is a closed chapter, but if it wants to avert an ideological clash, we are ready to forge an alliance on our terms,'' the firebrand frontal leader of the temple movement maintained.

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