New Delhi: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharati yesterday (Aug 27, 2004) raked up Sonia Gandhi's foreign origin asking Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh "not to yield to Italian pressure" and alleged that he had "insulted the tricolour" by arresting her.

"Your action of arresting me and thus pleasing Gandhi may perhaps strengthen your Chief Ministership but coming generations will not forgive you for the crime. You are insulting the tricolour, the pride of every Indian, apparently to please your Italian boss," Bharati said in a letter sent from jail to Singh.

Uma told the Karnataka Chief Minister that she did not regret her action on the fateful day of Aug 15, 1994 nor did harbour any grouse against him. At the same time, she said, "Your behaviour during the last seven days has shocked me."

"But I am really concerned at the mindset of Indians sitting in high places who forget normal courtesies to please their Italian bosses. This reminds me of the days of the freedom struggle when certain Indians went out of their way to please their English masters," she added.