Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh today (Aug 26, 2004) hit out at BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) charging that the party was "politicising" the criminal case against its leader Uma Bharati by linking it with the National Flag and making "attempts to create disturbance in the country out of frustration".

Singh cautioned BJP that its attempt to gain political mileage out of a criminal case would not succeed and people of the country had discovered its designs.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, he came down heavily on the statements of BJP President Venkaiah Naidu and others accusing Karnataka of filing cases against Uma Bharati for hoisting the National Flag, to "mislead" people.

He said the case Bharti was facing related to certain criminal offences including rioting and was not connected with unfurling of tricolour at the Idgah Maidan in Hubli.

The police booked cases against Bharti and 21 others for the violence that led to police firing which claimed five lives on August 15, 1994, Singh said.

"I also come from a patriotic family. No body needs to learn lessons from BJP leaders including Naidu or Uma Bharti on patriotism and respecting National Flag", Singh asserted.

The previous Congress Government made a sincere attempt to withdraw cases launched against those in connection with the Idgah Maidan flag hoisting row, but the court accepted its recommendations on nine cases, but rejected two, which involved charges like attempt to murder, he said defending the NBW (Non bailable warrant) issued against Bharti by a Hubli court.

BJP was trying to rake up the tri-colour issue out of frustration and with political motive, he charged.