Cong Workers Burnt Joshi’s House for Political Benefit: BSP
BSP general secretary Satish Chandra Mishra has said that members of her own party “conveniently” rummaged through and set on fire home of UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi in a bid to deflect attention from the derogatory remarks she had reportedly made against Chief Minister Mayawati.
“Making a comment of offering a sum of Rs.1 crore (to Mayawati) is an absolutely shameful act. Very conveniently, they (Congress leaders) got the house burnt by their own people. They have diverted the issue. It is a grave issue and should be dealt with seriously,” Mishra told a TV news channel.
“By burning the house, they can tell the country that whatsoever she (Joshi) said is right. The Lucknow incident is the Congress’ own creation, otherwise the whole country might be burning by now,” he added.
It may be noted that for reportedly making derogatory remarks about CM Mayawati, Joshi was arrested after midnight Wednesday in Ghaziabad. Around the same time, her house in Lucknow came under attack from BSP supporters.
Joshi was Thursday sent to judicial custody for 14 days in Moradabad.
“The action is not only condemnable but also shocking. They will have to repent for this. They will never be able to be successful in their intentions by burning their houses. Mayawati has kept the BSP under discipline the whole night. The entire fire incident is staged. We have raised the issue in the Lok Sabha,” said Mishra.
The BSP leader said his party will hold a meeting chaired by Mayawati in Lucknow later Thursday evening to “decide the future course of action”.
“There will be a meeting chaired by the party’s national president to decide the future course of action. It a sensitive matter,” Mishra told reporters.
He added that “women and the educated class are agitated” by the remarks of Joshi.
However, the Congress party has accused the Mayawati government of planning the attack at Joshi’s house and condemned the incidence.
“We condemn the incident which took place last (Wednesday) night of burning of Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house. This is state-sponsored vendalism and we are aware of the fact that when this was happening government officers of UP were sitting with the Chief Minister and it all happened at the behest of the CM,” senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh told reporters.
“The culprits have been named – Mr Babloo Tewari of BSP and an MLA were spearheading the attack. The media was informed and were asked to go to Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s house and this has all happened under the sponsorship of the state government. We strongly condemn it and will take it to all possible levels,” Singh said.
