On the face of it, BJP MP Uma Bharti, 37, has changed. But, on second thoughts, she has changed only in her tone, which is less direct. She says much the same things as of yore. After raising the bogey of defiance in Madhya Pradesh, when she along with her followers threatened to resign from the party, she quietly retracted her statements and fell into place, claiming that the issue has been resolved amicably. She remains the president of the BJP's youth organisation, but now clearly wants to get out of the mould of "firebrand, young leader". She spoke to NEERAJ MISHRA in her quarters at the party office in Bhopal. Excerpts:How does it feel to be no longer `untouchable'?Those who called us communal have now come to see the truth in our philosophy. We have always opposed any sort of vaad (ism), whether it is Dalitvaad (casteism) or alp sankhyakvaad (minorityism). The need of the hour is stability and the BJP is the only party capable of providing stability. Even the Muslims have themselves realised that the issue is equality and not appeasement. The issue is barabari (equality) and not Babri. The Congress has always played upon Muslim fears that they will be victimised by the Hindus but most of them can now see through the gameplan of leaders like Mulayam Singh Yadav.So has the BJP diluted its stance on issues like Ram Mandir, Article 370 and uniform civil code?The issue of Ram mandir remains. The fact is that there cannot be a movement for the construction of a temple. Jo karna tha woh to ho hi gaya hai movement se, ab mandir bhi ban hi jayega (Whatever the movement could do, it has done. Now the temple has to be built.) The movement for destruction is complete, the mandir will now be made once the governments in Delhi and Lucknow are the same. You see, you cannot have movement with everyone carrying a bag of cement or a brick each. It is the work of government and once we come to power in Delhi we will build the temple in the same place.Have you been able to convince people like Aslam Sher Khan, who have just joined the party, about this project?Aslam Bhai had always said that he was for equality amongst the Hindus and Muslims. As for the Babri Masjid, the Imam of Kaba had recently come to India and he has said that there should be no dispute on the issue as according to him the structure in Ayodhya could not have been a masjid. I am personally writing to the Imam to request him to head a committee of experts from fields of history and theosophy to determine the issue once and for all.This election is very different from the ones in '89, '91 or '96. At that time BJP was still making efforts at educating the masses about the real issue of minority appeasement. Now they have seen the truth for themselves. Vote on such bogus issues like secularism can lead only to unstable governments. This time the issue is stability and my party is in the best position to provide it.Have the changed issues also made your role negligible?I will do what my party asks me to do. I would be campaigning in constituencies I am asked to. I may even contest if given a ticket. What else can I do?Like, for instance, not split the party with threats of resignation. You had also said just before the elections in '96 that the `BJP was a party of Banias and brahmins'. Still your hold over the Lodh community seems to be weakening?All issues between me and the party leadership have been solved amicably. I do not remember making any adverse remarks about anyone. As far as the Lodh community is concerned, don't drag me into it. I am a sanyasin.You were also in the forefront of the movement by women MPs in Lok Sabha demanding 33 per cent reservation in Parliament. Would your party implement it if voted to power?The BJP has been demanding 33 per cent reservation for women since '93 after the Baroda conference. It is actually our proposal. We will strive to fulfill it. I am sure that by the next elections women will get their due.How many women candidates does the BJP hopes to field?Definitely more than last time. The problem is that most women do not want to come out and take an active part in politics. It is left to women like me to do so. Criminalisation of politics is a big reason. But if there is a statutory provision made for them then they will have to come out. It has happened in the panchayat elections and now the panchayats led by women are doing very well. They are less corrupt and more efficient.But at least five women sarpanchs have been paraded in the nude in MP alone.All that will be there for some time. Women will be insulted in the worst possible ways, just as men in politics are. The methods can vary. But slowly the society will accept that women have to be given their share in running the system. This is a testing period, some good women leaders will definitely emerge. Go to any school, college or watch any TV programme which give women an equal opportunity and see who wins. Girls today are definitely ahead of boys, I am hopeful that a good woman leader will just come along.
