Unapologetic of my participation in Ram temple movement: Uma Bharati

NEW DELHI: Unfazed by the SC ruling to initiate a time-bound trial against senior BJP leaders in relation to the conspiracy behind the 1992 demolition of Babri Masjid, an "unapologetic and unrepentant" Union water resources minister Uma Bharati asserted there was no conspiracy because all what happened was played out in public domain.

"Koi sazish nahi thi, sab khullam khulla tha (There was no conspiracy, everything was out there in open)," Bharati said at a press conference at her residence after the SC directive.

"I am ready to make any sacrifice for cow, Ram temple, Ganga and Tricolour," declared Bharati, whose espousal to the temple’s cause had catapulted her to national fame. "I have been unapologetic and unrepentant of my participation in Ram temple movement," she said.

Bharati, who was to travel to Ayodhya on Thursday to visit the makeshift Ram temple, cancelled her plans, sources revealed. The cancellation came after a marathon meeting of the BJP’s core group at the PM’s residence where the current political situation was said to have come up for discussion. Late in the evening party veteran MM Joshi went to meet LK Advani at the latter’s residence.

Bharati also dismissed the Opposition’s demand for her resignation saying "I will not respond to the Congress. They have no moral right. The criminality is yet not established".

Senior BJP leader and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley, too, dismissed the call for Bharati’s resignation and took a dig at the Congress for making such a demand.