Counter attack: Uma hits at Vajpayee

The BJP leader said former PM committed an act of indiscipline by speaking against her to the media.

A day after seeking to reach out to BJP's top leadership, suspended party leader Uma Bharti on Thursday accused former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of committing an act of "indiscipline" by speaking against her to the media.

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"If speaking on television against party colleagues is indiscipline, it should be same for everyone ... Be it an ordinary worker or the national president," she told a news channel.

"Now, my leader (Vajpayee) has spoken about my actions as an act of indiscipline. This in my opinion is an act of indiscipline," Bharti said.

Sanyasin in pain

She suggested the party chief, as the protector of the party constitution, does not have the right to violate rules.

On her suspension from BJP on Wednesday, Bharti was issued a showcause notice by the party charging her with deliberately defaming the party and its leaders through statements in the print and electronic media and asked to reply by Friday why she would not expelled.

On Thursday, Bharti had described Vajpayee and BJP chief LK Advani as "father figures" for her and said there was still scope for talks with party leadership on the issues of internal democracy and ideology of the organisation.