Uma Bharti exclusive: Being an accused in Babri case is not taint, it's a tilak on forehead

Union Minister Uma Bharti has said that she is ready to face trial in the Babri mosque demolition case while rejecting the Opposition's demand for resignation over the matter.

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Uma Bharti exclusive: Being an accused in Babri case is not taint, it's a tilak on forehead

Union Minister Uma Bharti. (Screenshot: AajTak)

New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 20, 2017 13:42 IST

Union Minster Uma Bharti has said that she is happy to be an accused in the Babri demolition case. She said that the Supreme Court order is an admission of my involvement in the Ayodhya movement.

Speaking exclusively to AajTak, Uma Bharti said, "I am happy to be an accused in the Ayodhya movement case. Being an accused in Ayodhya movement is not a taint. I consider this as a chandan tilak on forehead."

Uma Bharti also rejected the Opposition's demand for her resignation after the Supreme Court ordered that she along with senior BJP leaders LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi should face trial for conspiracy charges in the Babri demolition case.

WHAT ELSE UMA BHARTI SAID: THINGS TO KNOW

On the question whether she would again launch a movement for Ram Temple, Uma Bharti said, "Where is the need for a movement (for Ram temple). I have said it so many times. The movement was to assert that where Ram Lalla is sitting today was the birth place of Lord Ram. The court has given its seal on that saying the same spot is the birth place of Lord Ram."
"Now, the issue to be resolved is - who is the current owner of the land? Such land disputes can be settled inside the court or even outside. The Supreme Court has given an opportunity to settle the dispute outside. The Supreme Court could not have done anything better. The court's suggestion should be welcomed. This is can be settled through negotiation," Uma Bharti said.
The Union Water Resource Minister asserted during the interview that the issue for which (Ayodhya) movement was launched has been settled. The only matter remains is to build a grand temple there, Uma Bharti said.
Responding to a question as to if building Ram Temple at Ayodhya is easier with the Modi government at and Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh, Uma Bharti said, "Don't forget the matter is pending before the Supreme Court, which has asked the two parties the Waqf Board and Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas to settle the matter outside."
Uma Bharti urged the Opposition leaders to build a consensus for construction of Ram Temple. She said, "This is the time when (Congress president) Sonia Gandhi, (Bihar Chief Minister) Nitish Kumar, (RJD chief) Lalu Yadav (and) Mulayam Singh Yadav (the Samajwadi Party founder) should take initiative for building a temple on the lines of Somnath Temple for which Dr Rajencdra Prasad, Pt Jawaharlal Nehru and Chimanbhai Patel, all of them built a consensus."
Uma Bharti blamed the previous governments, particularly those led by the Congress, for communal tension over Ayodhya. She said, "After the Allahabad Court's verdict in the title suit case, (BJP leader) Ravi Shankar Prasad presented the facts very well. People had apprehension that the verdict may lead to tension in the country. But, nothing happened."
"Tension over Ayodhya was created by wrong presentation of the matter. The leftists, the Congress and the Samajwadis had played a negative role in building tension over Ayodhya by not presenting facts well," Uma Bharti added.
Does Uma Bharti regret demolition of Babri mosque? The Union Minister avoided a direct answer to the question asking a counter question, "How do you consider that I demolished the structure? And, what I should be apologetic about? I am not apologetic about saying Jai Shree Ram."
Explaining what she felt when the Babri mosque was pulled down, Uma Bharti said, "The same question was asked by Liberhan Commission," before adding, "My reaction was like as if you hate somebody so much that you don't want to see his face and suddenly the person is killed. It was a strange emotional feeling."
Responding to a question about whether the BJP has deserted Advani and Joshi after the Supreme Court said that they should face trial, Uma Bharti said, "I cannot comment on that. I don't know if your information is correct. But, LK Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi are jewels of the party. I don't think that the BJP is not talking to Advani."
On the question of cancelling her visit to Ayodhya after the Supreme Court order, Uma Bharti said that she would definitely go to offer prayer at Hanumangarhi and Ram Lalla temple. "I did not cancel the visit due to the Supreme Court order. I did not want to make it a political visit. But, I will definitely go to Ayodhya. It is a matter of personal belief."
Uma Bharti avoided a direct question about whether there was a conspiracy to demolish the Babri mosque. "You are trying to get me say something that would go against the Supreme Court, which I consider as God. While I need to be alert in answering the question, you should also be careful about asking the question," Uma Bharti angrily told the AajTak reporter.