PTI
 
Vadodara, Nov 26: Uma Bharti, Minister in the Vajpayee Government, has blamed Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for the defeat of BJP-led NDA in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP lost seven Lok Sabha seats to Congress in Gujarat which proved costly for formation of NDA Government at the Centre, she said during a meeting with the workers of her Bhartiya Janshakti Party (BJS) in Vadodara on Sunday.

In that poll, Congress won 145 seats while BJP bagged seven less at 138. In this backdrop other parties came forward and helped Congress to form UPA Government, Bharti noted.

Training guns at the BJP-ruled Gujarat, the former party leader alleged that the law and order situation in the State was deteriorating.

Not sparing the Congress either, the fiery sanyasin criticised the party for the Ram Sethu affidavit fiasco in the Supreme Court. She also slammed Congress for its stand on Nandigram, Indo-US nuclear deal and other issues.

Bharti, who left BJP to float her own party over two years ago, said she was in politics to protect the dignity of women, promote cow protection and defend her religion.

Bharti said she wants to set up ‘Ram Rajya', where girls could move freely and return home safely.

The BJS leader expressed her willingness to meet Modi.

Meanwhile, former Gujarat Chief Minister Suresh Mehta, ex-Home Minister Gordhan Zadapiya and several rebel BJP MLAs had a closed door meeting with Bharti, who has decided to field her candidates in next month's Assembly polls.

After the meeting, Mehta refused to say anything on the outcome of the talks.