Uma BhartiUnion Cabinet Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga RejuvenationIncumbentAssumed office26 May 2014Prime MinisterNarendra ModiPersonal detailsBorn3 May 1959(age 55)Tikamgarh, Madhya Pradesh, IndiaPolitical partyBharatiya Janata PartyOther politicalaffiliationsBharatiya Janshakti PartySpouse(s)noneOccupationSocial and Political ActivistReligionHinduismUma Bharti(born 3 May 1959), often given the honorific Sadhvi, is an Indian politician and Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in Union Government of India. Raised byVijaya Raje Scindiaof Gwalior, she became involved with theBharatiya Janata Party(BJP) at a very young age, unsuccessfully contesting her first Parliamentary elections in 1984. In 1989, she successfully contested theKhajurahoseat, and retained it in elections conducted in 1991, 1996 and 1998. In 1999, she switched constituencies and won theBhopalseat. In the Vajpayee Administration, she held various state-level and cabinet-level portfolios of HumanResource Development, Tourism, Youth Affairs & Sports, and finally Coal & Mines.Bharti was one of the most prominent leaders of theRam Janmabhoomimovement of the 1980s and 90s organised by the BJP and theVishva HinduParishad. She was present at thedemolitionof the Babri Masjid, and was later indicted by theLiberhan Commissionfor her role in the incident.[1]In the 2003 Assembly polls, she led the BJP to a three-fourths majority in theMadhya Pradeshassembly. She defeated her Congress opponent from the Malehra seat by a 25% margin. She resigned from the post of Chief Minister in August 2004, when an arrest warrant was issued againsther regarding the 1994 Hubli riot case.[2][3]Early lifeUma Bharti was born on 3 May 1959 in Dunda,Tikamgarh District, Madhya Pradesh, to a family of peasants. She attended school up until the sixth standard. As a child she displayed considerable interest in religious texts like theBhagvad Gita, which led to her being seen as a spiritual child.[4]She began togive religious discourses while still a child,which brought her into contact withRajmata Vijayaraje Scindia, who would later become her political mentor.[5]She describes herself in her youth as areligious missionary.[6]Political careerRise to Prominence and Ram JanmabhoomiWith the support of Viyayaraje Scindia, Bharti became involved with the Madhya Pradesh state BJP while still in her twenties. In 1984, she contested Lok Sabha elections for the first time, but lost the election in the Congress wave that followed the assassination ofIndira Gandhi.[4]In 1989, she won her first Lok Sabha seat from the constituency ofKhajuraho, and retained the seat in the elections of 1991, 1996, and 1998.[4]She rose to national prominence when shebecame one of the major faces of theRamjanmabhoomimovement alongsideL. K. Advaniand others. Her fiery speeches are credited for helping the movement achieve the momentum that it did.[4]In December 1992 she was one of several prominent Sangh Parivar figures present ata rally inAyodhyathat developed into a riotthat culminated in the demolition of theBabri Masjid.[1]Bharti was indicted for inciting a mob to violence by theLiberhan Commissionthat probed the incident.[7]Bharti herself denies that she incited the mob, but says she does not regret it, and is willing to take moral responsibility for the demolition.[8]She acknowledges that the BJP reaped massive political benefits from the incident.[9]In the 1999 Lok Sabha elections, she switched constituencies and won theBhopalseat. She was inducted into the cabinet of the Vajpayee Administration, and held various state-level and cabinet-level portfolios of Human Resource Development, Tourism, Youth Affairs & Sports, and finally Coal & Mines.[4]Chief MinisterBharti was appointed the Chief ministerial candidate of the BJP for the 2003 Assembly polls inMadhya Pradesh. On the back of a fierce campaign based on a plank of development, and helped along byher reputation as a Hindutva firebrand, sheled the party to a three-fourths majority in the legislature.[10][11]She herself defeated her Congress opponent from the Malehra seat by a 25% margin.Bharatiya Janashakti PartyIn August 2004, after only a year in office, an arrest warrant was issued against Uma Bharti in connection with the 1994 Hubli riots, forcing her resignation.[3]In November 2004, she had a public falling out with L. K. Advani during a meeting at the BJP headquarters. This led to a suspension from the Bharatiya Janata Party, which was revoked a few months later at the insistence of the RSS.[11]She continued to publicly defy the BJP high command, insisting that she replaceShivraj Singh Chauhanas the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, which led to several show-cause notices from the party, and eventually, to her expulsion.[4]In response, Bharti floated her own political party, theBharatiya Janshakti Party(also abbreviated BJP). She stated that her party followed the ideology of the RSS, and claimed that she had the supportofMohan Bhagwat, head of the Sangh.[7]However, the party had a marked lack of political success.[4]Re-entry into the BJPShe was re-inducted in the BJP on 7 June 2011. She was tasked with reviving the party in [Uttar Pradesh, ahead of theassembly electionin 2012.[12][13]Subsequently, she was appointed to the position of vice-president along with twelve others, as part of a team created to guide the BJP through the2014 Lok Sabhaelections.[4]On 16 May 2014, she was elected to the Lok Sabha fromJhansi constituencyby defeatingChandrapal Yadavof theSamajwadi Party.[14][15]On 26 May 2014, she was appointed by newly elected Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as the Minister for Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation in his cabinet.[16]Political PositionsFDI in retail in IndiaIn late November 2011, when the Government of India decided to allow 51% FDI in multi-brand retail and 100% in single brand retail, Uma Bharti threatened Walmart with arson should they enter the Indian market.[17]Ram JanmabhoomiMain article:Ram JanmabhoomiBharti is a strong supporter of theRam Janmabhoomimovement. She was one of the prominent leaders present during the riot which resulted in the demolition of theBabri Masjid. The Liberhan Commission that investigated the incident indicted her (among several other Sangh Parivar leaders) for inciting the mob to a riot. Bharti herself has denied the charges, but has called for the BJP to stop avoiding responsibility, saying:The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cameto power twice at the Centre riding on the Ram Mandir movement wave. So it should not disown the movement and wriggle out of its responsibility for the Babri mosque demolition. I was in the BJP then and was present at the site on the fateful day. I am ready to face any consequence, even to go to jail,She has also denied the presence of any conspiracy by the Sangh, while stating that she does not regret the demolition, as it furthers the goal of building a Ram Mandir there.[1][7][8][9]Offices and Positions heldBharti has held various posts:[6]*.1988 onwards: vice-president, Bharatiya Janata Party, Madhya Pradesh*.1989: elected to the9th Lok Sabha*.1990: member, Consultative Committee, Ministry of Agriculture*.1990–92: member, Consultative Committee, constituted under the PunjabState Legislature (Delegation of Power) Act, 1987*.1991: re-elected to the10th Lok Sabha*.1991–93: member, Public Accounts Committee*.1993 onwards: president, BJP Youth Wing*.1996: re-elected to the11th Lok Sabha*.1996–97: member, Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests*.1998: re-elected to the12th Lok Sabha*.1998–99: Union Minister of State, Human Resource Development*.1999: re-elected to the13th Lok Sabha(resigned on 18 December 2003)[4]*.13 October 1999 – 2 February 2000: Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Tourism (resigned on 2 February2000)*.7 November 2000 – 25 August 2002:Union Cabinet Minister, Youth Affairs & Sports*.26 August 2002 – 29 January 2003: Union Cabinet Minister, Coal and Mines*.2003: elected as aMember of the Legislative Assembly(MLA) ofMadhya Pradesh[4]*.8 December 2003
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 18:29:34 +0000
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