Uma Bharti, who had few years back stormed out of the BJP and set up her own Bharatiya Janashakti Party, is in a reconciliatory mood these days, going to the extent of backing LK Advani as the Prime Minister. The once firebrand Sadhvi spoke to Swati Chaturvedi on Zee News.com’s ‘Kahiye Janab’ program about her U-turn and future plans.
Swati: Welcome once again on Kahiye Janab, or shall I say once again welcome to the BJP.
Uma Bharti: When I parted ways with the BJP your programme and the channel were both very supportive. I have put together my Bharatiya Janashakti Party with a lot of hardship. We had massive support in MP and the BJP and Congress stood nowhere at that time. But due to financial constraints, we were not able to give even Rs 50,000 to our candidates to fight elections. We contested 300 Vidhan Sabha seats with the amount of money spent on one seat by the BJP and Congress. Further, I think there is no better option for the Prime Minister’s post than LK Advani. However, contrary to the speculation, I am not going to rejoin the BJP.
Swati: If you decide to go back to the BJP, will it prove to be a problem for Advani?
Uma: We have no option but to back Advaniji. We have no money for running our party. I don’t have money to even buy diesel for my vehicle. We had to stop fighting elections, as we had no other option left. And people are accusing me of taking a U-turn.
Swati: People are claiming that Uma Bharti has had to come back to the BJP. And how earlier she had vowed to destroy the BJP….
Uma: I was expecting this and even more. Rather, I would say media made less fun of me. The situation has become so bad that we are not able to fight election on our own and we are forced to support a party. As regards support for Advaniji, I request the media to survey and find out who is the best PM candidate among all those vying for the seat.
Swati: You had walked away the last time you attended a BJP meet. Do you remember that episode?
Uma: It is a truth, it’s recorded and I don’t deny it. After that, I met Advaniji twice, secretly. I told him that I wanted to support him as the PM candidate, because I don’t have any other option. I told him that I was not doing any favour to him. We have to support someone and from the background that I come, I cannot support anybody else.
Swati: You are normally candid. You are saying you have no other option but to support Advani as PM?
Uma: We are a party of the future. We will fight the future Lok Sabha elections. We have to overcome the financial problem by hard work and other means. We have supported the Ayodhya movement, Tiranga and Kashmir issue. I cannot support anybody else other than Advaniji.
Swati: Or is it like jaye to jaye kahaan?
Uma: No, it is not the case. We cannot support anybody else for the PM’s post. At present, Advaniji is the most suitable candidate but for me my party continues to remain the best. It is only for the PM’s post that we are taking this stand.
Swati: Has the Arun (Jaitley) and Varun (Gandhi) episode affected Advani? Who are you supporting?
Uma: I don’t want to comment on Arun Jaitley as it is BJP’s internal matter and it’s between Arun and Advaniji to settle the issue. I don’t want to get into all this.
Swati: Don’t you feel bad about the entire episode. Aren’t such issues tarnishing BJP’s image?
Uma: I don’t want to comment as it is their personal matter. But Varun Gandhi should use a language, which appeals to the masses. Muslims are an integral part of our country. But I also want to ask those who were behind Sanjay Dutt’s procession in Lucknow and hailed him as a hero. This discrimination shouldn’t be there because if Varun Gandhi is wrong, so is Sanjay Dutt.
Swati: Have you given any suggestions to them?
Uma: Arun Jaitley himself is a big lawyer and has fought many cases, so how can I suggest anything to him. He is like my elder brother.
Swati: (Addressing Uma Bharti as doctor Uma) What would have been your stand if you were in the party?
Uma: It’s their personal matter, so how can I comment on it? I want to be Advaniji’s solution and not a problem. I just want him to become the next PM.
Swati: What do you have to say on Kalyan Singh’s U-turn?
Uma: I always thought he would join us. But when I heard him saying sorry for the Babri Masjid episode, I really got hurt. One just cannot say sorry and shy away from his responsibilities. Such episodes reflect badly on Indian politics.
Swati: Advani himself is saying that the main poll issues are security and prosperity, but still the name of Ram is being projected from time to time.
Uma: He is a person with spotless image. He is the only one who is suitable to tackle the country’s problems. I support the Ram Setu and Ayodhya issues and will start my campaign from there only.
Swati: What about your U-turn? Are you happy?
Uma: I am very relaxed and happy. For quite some time there was talk of many names for the PM’s post. I was very shocked to hear from Mayawati about her prime ministerial ambitions. Jayalalithaa, Mulayam Singh both have many cases pending against them. Thus I am very happy to support Advaniji as he is the one who if voted to power will address the Ram Setu and the Ayodhya issue.
(Adaptation: Biplob Ghosal)
