Uma Bharati Accuses Protesters of Sullying Nation's Image

KOLKATA: Dismissing the protests over alleged growing intolerance in the country, Union Water Resource Minister Umar Bharati today accused the protesters of "maligning the image of the nation" with some purpose.

"There are some people in the country who are encouraging such protests intentionally and definitely with some purpose and even there might be a conspiracy as well to stop BJP's progress or prevent Modiji from taking many revolutionary steps which the opposition fears," she said at a programme to mark the 140th Birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

"This will malign the image of the country, but won't be able to tarnish the image of Modiji (Is me desh ka image ko problem hoga, lekin kuch nehi bigarnewala Modiji ka)," she observed. "In the name of raising voice against alleged

intolerance, these people are actually encouraging intolerance to divide people and spoil the poll prospect of the BJP in Bihar, which will never happen," Bharati added. "Where were these persons when riots took place in 1984 or when the country was divided in the name of religion ?," she asked.

Flaying the opposition, Bharati said incidents like Dadri lynching or the murder of eminent Kannada rationalist M M Kalburgi happened in Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka respectively, the states ruled by the Samajwadi Party and the Congress. "What is happening today in different states, those states are not ruled by the BJP," she said.

The union minister added, "Then why Modiji has to be blamed or made to reply for these incidents? Its a matter of concern." Bharati, however, did not comment on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee having expressed concern over intolerance.

On report of some people having consumed beef in a public place yesterday in the city, Bharati urged people not to be provoked by this (act). "Animals consume beef in the jungle too," she said. The union minister asked scribes not to "Write or show anything to improve your TRP but which could malign the image of the nation."

Endorsing state BJP President Rahul Sinha, Bharati hoped that the BJP government would take over the reins in West Bengal next year.