Click to play videoNew Delhi: Congress UP chief Rita Bahuguna was arrested on Wednesday night in Ghaziabad district for making allegedly derogatory remarks against BSP chief Mayawati. A portion of her house in Lucknow was also set on fire by allegedly BSP supporters.
Condemning the incident the Congress party has accused the Mayawati government of planning the attack at Joshi's house.
"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.
Congress leader Manish Tewari and Jayanti Natrajan pointed out at the worsening law and order situation in UP and demanded action against the state government.
"There is complete breakdown of law and order in Uttar Pradesh. We condemn it in the strongest possible way and hope the authorities will take due note of the incident and act accordingly," Natranjan told CNN-IBN.
"We will take it legally," said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Rahul Gandhi who is going to Amethi, UP on Friday is likely to visit Lucknow also. Reacting to Joshi's arrest, the ACCI General Secretary said the law and order situation in UP is grim.
Defending Joshi, Tewari said: "Her comments were metaphorical. She wasn't making a personal assault on any individual. Her comments have to be seen in complete metaphorical context but being a woman she is, she has apologised. I think this is the civil way of going about it rather than setting people's home on fire and ransacking private property."
UPCC spokesperson, Akhilesh Pratap Singh also emphasised that as Joshi had apologised for her remarks the matter should have been dropped then and there.
"Rita Bahuguna had already apologised to Mayawati. So, she should have dropped the matter there and then. We appeal the governor to report the matter to the President, as the law and order have failed in the state," Akhilesh said.
Congress MP from Moradabad Mohammad Azharuddin also condemned the incident and said tough actions should be taken the culprits.
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