Bangalore: Stepping up its offensive against the ruling UPA (United Progressive Alliance) at the Centre and the Karnataka Government, BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) today (Aug 29, 2004) announced it would launch an eight-day long "Satyagraha" in Bangalore from September 1, to press for its three demands, including removal of "tainted" union ministers and withdrawal of criminal cases "foisted" against party leader Uma Bharti.

Briefing reporters after the programmes were finalised at a meeting of BJP Karnataka unit leaders, party President M Venkaiah Naidu said the top leaders, who would lead the "Satyagraha", would also court arrest along with partymen from September 1 to 8.

Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha L K Advani would lead the protest on the opening day, which would also demand the Centre to make amends to the "insulting remarks" made against freedom fighter Veer Savarkar by Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Iyer, he said.

Naidu said the party's national office bearers meeting had been convened in Bangalore on September 8, to decide on extending the agitation to other parts of the country, after the first phase in Bangalore.

Flaying the Karnataka Government for the cases filed against Bharti, presently in judicial custody till September 7 in Dharwad, he demanded that the State realise the "grave mistake" it committed and retrace its steps.

Naidu said the party's front ranking leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, would take part in the agitation and court arrest.

Vajpayee would also address a rally on September 8. All the BJP MPs, legislators and party office-bearers from across the country would also join the stir, giving it a "national look", he said.

Bharti, who resigned as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, had surrendered before a Hubli court on August 25 following a non-bailable warrant issued against her in connection with cases of rioting and attempt to murder filed against her during the BJP-led agitation to hoist the national flag at Idgah Maidan in Hubli in 1994, which had later led to violence. Four persons were killed in police firing.