Uma threatens to lodge complaint against Centre

Bhopal, Sep 13: Bharatiya Janashakti (BJ) Founder-President and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti today declared that a police complaint would be lodged on September 22 at Delhi against the Centre's affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court on the Ram Sethu issue.

''The BJ will submit the complaint, against the Centre, under Section 329(a) of the Indian Penal Code for inciting public passion,'' she told reporters here and added that her proposed fast over the issue was cancelled.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who laid the foundation for the Sethusamudram Project for facilitating smooth passage of ships, United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, all those Union ministers and officials named in the affidavit would be made respondents, the firebrand sadhvi added.

''The Centre's decision to withdraw the affidavit is a boon for the Ram Sethu. However, the Centre's step proves that it is not serious about the country's prestige. People with a foreigner mentality neither comprehend the country's culture nor public sentiments,'' Ms Bharti alleged.

Training guns on the Bharatiya Janata Party, she said that it was struggling with a credibility crisis over the Ram temple issue.

''The saffron party's direct participation in this matter has actually caused a loss because if the BJP had not associated itself then the demolition might have been halted quite sometime back.

Public sentiment was also late in linking with the matter. I later contacted monks and urged them to come forward,'' Ms Bharti added.

When asked whether the Centre admitted its mistake by withdrawing the affidavit, she alleged that submitting an affidavit of that nature was itself a grave offence.

Regarding the Centre submitting a fresh affidavit, Ms Bharti said that the foreigner mentality of the Congress and its leaders was exposed and the Project must be scrapped.

''The Centre's apology is part of a political agenda. The BJP should not include religious issues in its political agenda merely for a votebank. If that party's senior leader L K Advani heeded my suggestion to let monks head the Ram temple constructon issue then BJP credibility would not have suffered a body blow,'' she felt.

Ms Bharti had suggested that the seers of four peeths head for Ayodhya from their respective seats and Mr Advani head for the ancient temple town from Delhi.

''The talk about economic loss if the Sethu remained intact is mere imagination. If the Sethu is declared a World Heritage structure then income will flow due to its religious and tourist importance,'' she added.

UNI