Reprieve for jailed Indian leader

Bharti - a charismatic Hindu nun

The government in the southern Indian state of Karnataka has agreed to drop all charges against a jailed opposition leader, Uma Bharti.

Ms Bharti of the Hindu nationalist BJP was sentenced to 14 days in custody last week over charges that she incited Hindu-Muslim violence 10 years ago.

She resigned as Madhya Pradesh state chief minister before being arrested.

The decision to drop charges against her should pave the way for her release, correspondents say.

Political fight

Karnataka's government made its position clear during a hearing in the state's high court on Monday.

There is no political vendetta against Bharti Advocate General BT Parthasarthy

"The government is directed to move the necessary application before the trial court for withdrawal of the case," BT Parthasarthy, the state's advocate general, said.

"If the matter is delayed the accused is at liberty to move bail petition on regular grounds and also on medical grounds."

He said the government stood by its decision in 2002 to withdraw all charges against Ms Bharti and others.

Correspondents say the state government - led by the Congress party - may have changed its mind to try to stop the BJP from making political capital out of Ms Bharti's imprisonment.

Religious controversy

Ms Bharti's arrest was followed by widespread protests by the BJP which had planned a week of demonstrations beginning on Wednesday and led by India's opposition leader, LK Advani.

The BJP had threatened a week of protests

It was to end with a public rally on 8 September to be addressed by former prime minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee.

A BJP spokesman in the state capital, Bangalore, told the BBC that the week-long protest would now become "a victory celebration".

Ms Bharti, a firebrand Hindu nun, is one of the most charismatic politicians in the BJP.

She is accused of leading a banned rally in Karnataka in 1994 which led to clashes between Hindus and Muslims after BJP workers unfurled the Indian flag over a prayer ground disputed by both communities.

Several people were killed in the violence that followed.