Uma Bharti's chapter is closed for BJP: Tomar

Jabalpur, Jan 20: Madhya Pradesh BJP President and Public Relations Minister Narendra Singh Tomar today said former chief minister and Bharatiya Janashakti Founder-President Uma Bharti is a closed chapter for the BJP.

''There is no question of her returning to the BJP fold. Her chapter is close,'' Mr Tomar told reporters here yesterday.

He said the state BJP unit had set three priority areas with the first priority being to take the BJP to such areas where the BJP has not reached so far.

The second priority was to ensure that the benefits of welfare schemes of the government reached to remotest villages. Party workers must ensure that the benefits reached intended people.

The third priority was that the party must make people aware about the increasing threat to internal security and skyrocketing prices due to policies of the Centre.

On the expansion of ministry in Madhya Pradesh, he made it clear that the decision in this regard depended upon Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.

He said Minister of State for Water Resources and Animal Husbandry Jugal Kishore Bagri had resigned from the cabinet on ''moral grounds'' after a charge-sheet was filed in a corruption case relating to irregularities in the recruitment of 'Shikshakarmis' in Satna district in 1998.

Regarding three Chief Ministers in the state in three years, Mr Tomar said it happened due to circumstances but assured that Mr Chouhan would complete his entire tenure.

He said he believed in the principle of 'one man one post' and had tendered his resignation before assuming the charge of state BJP President. However, he was asked to retain the post until ministry reshuffle took place.

He said he had asked Mr Chouhan to accept his resignation three days back.

Mr Tomar said the Public Relations policy had been formulated and would be announced soon.

UNI