Latur: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti, who is on a 3000-km Hubli-Jalianwala Baug 'Tiranga Yatra', yesterday (Sep 13, 2004) alleged her arrest in the decade-old criminal case of Hubli was a revenge taken by the Congress president Sonia Gandhi as she (Uma) had become roadblock in her (Sonia's) road to the Prime Ministership.

"I realised that I was arrested because I stopped Sonia from becoming Prime Minister," Uma said addressing a public meeting here on the first day of her yatra's tour of Maharashtra.

Uma said she succeeded in ensuring that Sonia did not become Prime Minister, although her Opposition made her a villain in the eyes of the Congressmen.

"It is sad that our own people find a pride in praising a foreigner for her alleged sacrifice and demean their own daughter," Uma said commenting on the praises heaped on Sonia Gandhi after she renounced the Prime Ministership and the brickbats on her (Uma) for opposing Sonia.

"This was the mindset of some people in the country which is why outsiders like Mohammed Gazni and East India Company could rule. There is need to change the mindset and we will convince them to do so," the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader said in a lighter vein amid applause from the party workers and supporters.

The fiery sanyasin, who is known for her pungent remarks, said that by opposing her right to unfurl tricolour, Congress was treading Jinnah's way who opposed Congress' flag before the partition. Uma said that if the Congress continued to infringe on her right, she would "expose" the party.

Earlier in the day, Uma addressed public meetings at Udgir, Her and Renapur, before concluding her first day at Latur.