Uma Bharti to attend Ayodhya bhoomi pujan now on Ram Mandir trust’s ‘instruction’

Two days ago, Uma Bharti had said she won’t attend the programme because she might pick up Covid infection on the way from Bhopal and could pass it on to others at the ceremony.

A file photo of BJP leader Uma Bharti. | Photo: ANI

Ayodhya: Facing flak over ignoring many senior BJP leaders who were not called for the big event in Ayodhya, the Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust Wednesday asked Uma Bharti to be present at the Ram Temple bhoomi pujan (ground-breaking) ceremony. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending the ceremony.

In a tweet, Bharti said, “I am bound by the dignity of Purushottam Ram. I have been instructed by the senior members of Ram Janmabhoomi trust to be present at the bhoomi pujan programme. That is why I will be there today.”

मैं मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम राम की मर्यादा से बँधी हूँ । मुझे रामजन्मभूमी न्यास के वरिष्ठ अधिकारी ने शिलान्यास स्थली पर उपस्थित रहने का निर्देश दिया है । इसलिये मैं इस कार्यक्रम में उपस्थित रहूँगी । #RamMandirBhumiPujan

— Uma Bharti (@umasribharti) August 5, 2020

Bharti’s move came two days after she had decided to skip the ceremony as she was “concerned” about the health of PM Modi.

The BJP leader took to Twitter Monday, saying she has asked the trust to remove her name from the list of invitees. However, she informed the trust that she will be “on the banks of the river Sarayu in Ayodhya” at the time of the programme.

Upset over treatment of senior BJP leaders

According to sources, Bharti was upset over the way the trust had treated senior BJP leaders, who had played a pivotal role in the Ayodhya movement.

“The trust reached out to her and persuaded her to attend the programme,” said a source.

Earlier, leaving from Bhopal, Bharti addressed the media and said Lord Ram belongs to all and is not a “bapauti” (property) of BJP. “The deity belongs to all irrespective of faith,” she said.

Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra Trust general secretary Champat Rai had Monday said senior BJP leader L.K. Advani was not extended an invitation due to “old age” but had been spoken to.

“How will those above 90 years of age come? How will L.K. Advani ji come? We have also requested Kalyan Singh ji not to come due to age, and he agreed… We spoke to both Advani ji and Murli Manohar Joshi ji. They expressed their inability to come on their own,” Rai said at a press meet.