Thursday, December 15 2005 12:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Sagar (Madhya Pradesh): Dispelling speculations about her political career collapsing after being expelled from BJP, Uma Bharti today (December 15, 2005) claimed that Lord Rama's name would prevent her from "sinking".

"Rama's name is written on me. I will not sink, like the stones used for `Ram Setu' (a floating bridge constructed across the Indian Ocean with stones carrying Rama's name in the epic `Ramayana')," Bharti said at a public meet during her march to Ayodhya at Sehora.

The fiery sanyasin claimed that unlike Arjun Singh and other leaders, who were left with little support after leaving their respective political parties, she enjoyed "tremendous backing" of the people.

"The fight is not for Bhopal. The real contest is for Delhi. It is about the right heir to Deen Dayal Upadhyay," she claimed, and reiterated that she is the "real BJP".

She said that the support of the party workers would decide the BJP heir. "Those having more number of sticks (people's support) will carry the flags," she said.

Claiming that she was alone when she started the march from Bhopal, Bharti said party workers and people have joined her on the way showering love and affection.

Referring to the leadership change in Madhya Pradesh, she accused BJP of "insulting its general secretary by ignoring my request for secret ballot" during the legislature party meet that elected Shivraj Singh Chouhan as its leader in Bhopal on November 28.

"The MLAs are keeping quiet against the injustice as they are afraid that action might be taken against them under the garb of anti-party activities," she alleged.

Alleging betrayal by senior BJP leaders, Bharti told reporters in Mugarau village, "I have been in politics like an innocent child. I considered senior leaders of my party as my family. But, I forgot that they were also leaders."

She claimed that she had started a new life and will carry people's sentiments in all her future endeavours.

Claiming that some BJP leaders were fearful of her, the fiery sanyasin asked them to "recite `Hanuman Chalisa' to dispel the fear".

Accusing Congress of "misusing" Mahatma Gandhi's name and BJP of deviating from Deen Dayal Upadhyay ideology, she alleged that political parties have endangered the country as a few people in Delhi frame their own policies and force others to follow.