The Hindu : National : Will abide by Code of Conduct: Uma Bharti

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

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National

Will abide by Code of Conduct: Uma Bharti

By Our Staff Correspondent

BIDAR (KARNATAKA), SEPT. 12. "I will abide by all provisions of the Election Commission's code of conduct, including not using the `tiranga yatra' for campaign of elections in Maharashtra or elsewhere," the Bharatiya Janata Party leader, Uma Bharati, said here today.

She told the media that she had not violated any code since the beginning of the yatra and that she would continue to abide by it during the six days of the yatra in Maharashtra.

She reiterated that celebrating the honour of the national flag was her only intention behind organising the yatra and not the desire for votes.

`All are invited'

Asked whether the yatra would not be converted into an election campaign rally with Shiv Sainiks expected to join it in Maharashtra, she said: "I invite one and all to the yatra. I also call upon leaders of the Congress and the Communist parties to join us. In fact, if Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde joins us, we will travel in the same rath." She said leaders such as George Fernandes and Prakash Singh Badal would join the yatra en route to Jalianwala Bagh.

On whether the yatra would not influence the outcome of elections, Ms. Bharti said: "If it is advantage BJP, I will thank Dharam Singh and Sonia Gandhi for it."

`Drop tainted Ministers'

PTI reports from Udgir, Maharashtra:

Later, addressing a rally in Udgir, Ms. Bharti raised the "tainted" Ministers' issue and demanded that the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, either remove such persons from his Cabinet or quit.

Describing Dr. Singh as an "honest and intelligent" person, the BJP leader, however, claimed that he lacked "guts" and was surrounded by "thieves and dishonest people." Dr. Singh's condition was akin to that of `Vidur' of the Mahabharta, she said.

Ms. Bharti recalled the former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's statement about not tolerating corruption and the removal of a Minister, accused of graft, even if it (removal) endangered the stability of the National Democratic Alliance.

The BJP leader accused the Congress of "doublespeak" on the issue of Veer Savarkar. While Central Congress leaders were "insulting" him, the party's Maharashtra unit was eulogising him, she claimed.

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