Lucknow, July 20 (Inditop.com) Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who was arrested and whose house was set on fire following her remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati, Monday said her life was “in danger” and Mayawati could plan attack on her.
“After setting my residence on fire by her goons, Mayawati can now also plan attacks on me. My life is in danger now, but I am not scared. I have lived a lot but I will continue to fight for the poor, the oppressed and for women’s rights,” Joshi said at a press conference here.
Terming Mayawati as a fascist dictator, Joshi said, “It’s not the rule of law in Uttar Pradesh…It’s only ‘Maya rule’ that does not allow anyone to raise voice against the state government…If anyone does, he is gagged and implicated falsely.”
Reiterating the demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the arson attack on her house, Joshi said, “If the Bahujan Samaj Party government fails to recommend the CBI inquiry by July 31, we will hit roads across the state from Aug 1. Even the (Congress) high-command has given its acceptance in this regard.”
Joshi was arrested after being charged with denigrating Dalits and Mayawati in a speech last Wednesday. She was released from jail Saturday after being granted interim bail.
Her house in Lucknow was set on fire Wednesday night allegedly by a group of BSP workers following her remarks that offended Mayawati.
Joshi has already apologised for her remarks and demanded a CBI probe into the arson attack on her house.
However, she denied having made any anti-Dalit remarks. She said she was ready to take retirement from politics if it was proven that she had ever made casteist remarks.
“I have never made any casteist remarks… I challenge Mayawati if she proves this, I will retire from politics.”
“What I said in Moradabad, while addressing a road-side reception only conveyed my strong sentiments towards insensitiveness of the Mayawati government for poor women.”
Joshi alleged while in the Moradabad district jail, she was treated like a terrorist on the directions of Mayawati.
“I was not allowed to meet my family members…problems were created in my legal assistance…I was kept in a barrack housing nearly 65-68 inmates,” she said.
Joshi said there were evidences against Mayawati and her ministers who planned and carried out arson attack on her house.
She alleged that the vehicle used by the miscreants, who carried out the attack was recovered by police and that it belonged to a BSP leader, who is attached to the Mayawati’s trusted lieutenant Babu Singh Kushwaha.
“We have learnt that the vehicle was recovered from Lucknow. However, police authorities are trying their best to cover up the case on the directions of Mayawati.”
Deputy Inspector General Prem Prakash, refuting the charges, told IANS: “It’s still to be established whether the vehicle was used by the assailants.”
