Uma Bharti gives police the slip, to continue fast

By Our Staff Correspondent

BHOPAL, MAY 6. The senior BJP leader, Ms. Uma Bharti, who had been sitting on an indefinite fast in front of the State Secretariat here since May 1 protesting against retrenchment of over 20,000 daily wagers by the State Government, went underground last night hours before the police raided her makeshift tent early this morning to round her up along with her supporters.

The police party that raided Ms. Uma Bharti's tent around 3-30 a.m. today arrested the Congress (I) MLA, Dr. Kalpana Parulekar, from the same spot under Section 151 CrPC and forcibly drove her off in a police vehicle. Before her arrest, there was a heated argument between her and the district authorities supervising the police operations. Dr. Parulekar was particularly angry since a male cop had entered the area where women agitators were fast asleep.

Dr. Parulekar, who was lodged in the Central Jail, later developed some medical complications and was rushed to the Hamidia Hospital, where she was admitted with severe cardiac complaints this afternoon. It is learnt that the jail authorities did not take any risk and sent her to the main referral centre for treatment. After disappearing from her dharna venue, Ms. Bharti surfaced at a press conference convened by the State unit BJP Vice President, Mr. Babulal, and the former city Mayor, Mr. Umashankar Gupta, at the State BJP headquarters here this morning.

She told newsmen that she had already left the dharna venue when the police team had arrived there since she had received information that an attempt would be made to feed her by force.

Ms. Bharti told newsmen that she is still continuing her indefinite fast and would surface once again at Mayur Park in New Bhopal area at 11 am tomorrow where she would resume her dharna. Commenting on the manner in which the women protesters, including Dr. Parulekar was arrested, she said ``this shows how shabbily women are being treated under the present regime''.

Ms. Bharati's agitation, which was not supposed to be fought on party lines, has now taken a political dimension with the announcement that the BJP MPs shall boycott the meeting of all State MPs convened by the Chief Minister, Mr. Digvijay Singh, on Monday. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the AICC has issued a showcause notice to Dr. Parulekar on her public outburst against the Chief Minister when she offered her support to Ms. Bharti's agitation on May 1.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : BJP presidential poll by mid-June
Next     : Newspaper industry wage scales: INS' contention