Cong accuses Maya govt of sponsoring attack on Rita's house

"All this has happened at the behest of UP Chief Minister....under the sponsorship of the state government. The FIR has the name of culprit Babloo Tiwari, a BSP MLA, who was spearheading the attack," Congress leader Digvijay Singh told reporters here.

"The police was told what is going to happen. When the incident took place, all senior officials were at CM's residence... Congress will fight the way in which Mayawati government is using law to suppress its political opponents," Singh said adding the party will fight it "at whatever level we are made to".

Party spokesperson Manish Tewari said, "there is complete jungleraj in UP. The Chief Minister is taking her frustration out against the legal proceedings against her which are coming to a culmination now."

Joshi was yesterday arrested in Ghaziabad district for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati.

Alleged BSP supporters had set a portion of Joshi's house on fire besides damaging vehicles parked in the premises.

Tewari said, "ransacking the house of UPCC President is going to be the last nail in the coffin of the Mayawati government and it has stirred a hornet's nest."

Earlier there was a "brutal lathicharge in Amethi, where people were almost beaten to death for demanding something like electricity. And then this attack on Joshi's house and her arrest. It's an act of complete desperation," he said.

Commenting on the case registered against Joshi, Tewari said, "the kind of lawlessness that persists in Uttar Pradesh, you can make out a case against anybody for anything. It just needs nothing at all."

Singh, the AICC in-charge for UP, however said, "the comments of Rita Bahuguna Joshi were un-called for but the context should be considered in which they have been said. She herself has apologised" and wondered "which law permits Joshi's house to be set ablaze."

"We will fight the battle legally as far the case registered against her is concerned," Singh said adding that the SC/ST Act has been unnecessarily been invoked.

Another party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, said, "this is at best an individual case. It cannot be said it is something to inflame communal passion or outraging the modesty of women. It is completely wrong on the state government's behalf especially after Joshi stated that she regrets and apologised for her remarks".