Do not arrest Uma, BJP warns govt

The Bharatiya Janata Party's Karnataka unit on Tuesday warned the state government against arresting former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Uma Bharti when she enters the state on Wednesday morning.

Also Read What is the case against Uma Bharti? Same flag, same place, warns Bharti

A Hubli court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Bharti in a 10-year-old rioting case.

On August 14-16, 1994, way before the Bharatiya Janata Party came to hold the reins of power at the Centre, Bharti led an agitation and hoisted the Tricolour at the Idgah Maidan in Hubli, Karnataka.

Since the ground was disputed, and the BJP activists had defied an order banning assembly at the spot, a criminal case was filed against Bharti and 21 others.

"The government should make the way smooth for her surrender before the Hubli court. If it did otherwise and she
is arrested, it should be prepared to face the consequences," party general secretary Arvind Limbavali told reporters.

The BJP, he said, will launch an agitation in case Bharti was arrested.

Limbavali said all BJP state unit office-bearers, led by the party's state unit chief, will be present in Hubli on Wednesday morning to welcome Bharti.