Chennai: Accusing the Tamil Nadu police of 'leaking stories' to a section of the media on investigation into the Sankararaman murder case, in which Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi has been arrested, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti yesterday (Dec 12, 2004) challenged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to take action against those responsible for it.

"When the Government felt that the case (against the Seer) is weak, many stories are coming out. Investigators are leaking them to a certain section of the media. I challenge Jayalalithaa... Let her suspend the investigators," she said at a public meeting, organised in Chennai by the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) to demand the release of the Seer.

Wondering whether these kinds of "personal attacks through leaks" did not amount to tampering with the judicial process, she asked the people of the State to take the arrest issue very seriously.

"This is an attack on the honour and dignity of the country. Both our economy and culture are under attack. The Kanchi Mutt is the place of Adi Shankara. We must wake up from sleep, unite and teach those responsible for this, a lesson."

Coming down heavily on Jayalalithaa, the suspended BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader described her as a 'power hungry lady', who did not know what her intentions were in arresting the Seer. "But it will come out after some time."

She also refuted DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) Chief M Karunanidhi's remarks that she had not attacked the State Government, but had only targeted Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the arrest.