New Delhi, Jan 19: A war of words has begun between Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and BJP's saffron sanyasin Uma Bharti with the former asking where she was when he was raising the Bundelkhand farmers issue.
Addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi said, a leader from Madhya Pradesh has come here to contest. "I want to ask where was she so long?"
Rahul Gandhi said, "when farmers in Bundelkhand were on the verge of starvation, it was I who raised their issue and took them to the Prime Minister. When I was touring among the people of Bundelkhand, where was she?"
Uma Bharti, who is going to contest from Charkhari constituency near Mahoba in Bundelkhand, was quick to respond on Thursday.
Said Uma: "If Sonia Gandhi can come from Italy and contest in India, then why can't I come from MP and contest in UP? Rahul should first ask the question about her mother's background and then speak about his bua (aunt, referring to herself)."
Uma Bharti said, she respected Rahul's mother, and wanted to remind Rahul, that his father (Rajiv Gandhi) had given the slogan of bringing Ram Rajya.
"Eating pakodas in the huts of mallahs (boatmen) won't do. He has to invite the mallahs to his house and offer them sandwiches. Rahul should not take things lightly. I want to talk about issues, not individuals", said Uma Bharti.
The BJP leader reminded Rahul that she had demolished (dhool chataa di) his guru Digvijay Singh in MP, and was going to do the same to the guru-shishya duo in UP.
On Bundelkhand package, Uma Bharti alleged, Rahul has lied to the voters.
"We are still searching for the Bundelkhand package. People from Bundelkhand are still engaged as labourers in Delhi."
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