Udupi: Giving a spiritual twist to her release from the jail in Dharwad on the auspicious occasion of "Janmashtami" yesterday (Sep 6, 2004), the firebrand BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Uma Bharti likened it to the birth of Lord Krishna in jail of "demon Kamsa".

"The doors of the jail in Dharwad opened itself on the Janamashtami day like the door of the jail opened on its own when Lord Krishna was born," former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti who visited this temple town yesterday after she was discharged by a court in a decade-old criminal case, said.

Bharti who drove straight to Udupi after her release from the Dharwad jail via Hubli offered "arghya" (sacred offering of milk and water from conch) at 0200 hours in Udupi on the occasion celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna, said she had come to Udupi "after release from the jail of demon Kamsa", responding to a felcitiation given by Paryaya Mutt Pontiff, Sri Vishvapriya Thirtha Swamiji. Bharti who has embraced Sanyas said just as the holy places like Mathura, Brij and Brindavan were protected by Lord Krishna by "punishing evil forces like Kamsa who went against the people and the motherland", all citizens who have respect and regard for India and "our tri-colour national flag should punish those who do not have respect and regard for our national flag and our land", she said.