‘Govindji proposed marriage’

Seeking to silence the whispers about her relationship with former BJP ideologue Govindacharya, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti sai...

Seeking to silence the whispers about her relationship with former BJP ideologue Govindacharya, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti said on Wednesday that though he had proposed to her in 1991, he later considered her his guru after she took sanyas. She also admitted that Govindacharya offered ‘‘valuable’’ suggestions on running the government.

‘‘Advaniji had told me that Govindji wanted to marry me and the idea was not welcomed by my elder brother Swamiprasad Lodhi,’’ Bharti said at a book release here.

‘‘After a first look at Govindji, my brother was disappointed. But I asked him to ask Advaniji about his qualities,’’ she said, adding that ‘‘after I took sanyas on November 17, 1992, Govindacharya touched my feet and called me his guru.’’ About one-and-half years ago, Bharti said, she had heard about Govindacharya losing his vehicle and his house ‘‘snatched’’. ‘‘I approached him and brought him to my place, informing every party dignitary.’’

‘‘To meet Govindacharya, I don’t have to go to Kedarnath,’’ she said, adding that he often visits her Bhopal residence and she goes to Delhi to meet him. Bharti said, Govindacharya went for tapasya to Varanasi for six months on her suggestion. She added that Govindacharya’s words have always kept her close to the poor people whom she represents. —(PTI)

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