Lucknow, July 20 (IANS) The Congress Monday alleged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has “rewarded” Intezar Abidi, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader accused in the arson attack on Congress state chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, by giving him a “plum post”. It once again demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the attack.
The Congress said Abidi has been appointed chairman of the State Sugar Corporation, a post equivalent to that of minister of state.

“From our reliable sources we have learnt that Abidi has been rewarded with the plum post. He was also seen travelling in a red-beacon car,” Akhilesh Pratap Singh, the chief spokesperson of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, told IANS.

“By this, it becomes very clear that Mayawati is not hesitant in giving patronage to criminals and anti-social elements… After all, it was she (Mayawati) who sponsored the attacks,” Singh said.

There has been no official statement by the state government on Abidi’s new post and BSP leaders were unavailable for comment.

Joshi, on her return from New Delhi, said Abidi’s appointment shows that the state government was involved in the attack.

“The person against whom I had lodged complaint has been made chairman of the Sugar Corporation. This shows the state government was involved in the attack. This must be probed by CBI,” Joshi said.

“It depicts the ‘jungle raj’ prevailing in the state. Nothing less than a CBI inquiry will satisfy us… if the Mayawati government fails to recommend the (CBI) inquiry, we will move the High court to get justice,” Joshi told reporters here after arriving at the Charbagh railway station.

Abidi and BSP legislator Jitendra Singh have been accused of arson and vandalism at Joshi’s residence in Lucknow. A police report has been registered against them on a complaint by the Congress.

Joshi’s house in Lucknow was set on fire Wednesday night allegedly by a group of BSP workers because she made remarks that offended Mayawati both as a woman and a Dalit.

Joshi was arrested early Thursday and charged under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. She was granted bail by a Moradabad court Saturday.

Joshi has already apologised for her remarks and demanded that the probe into the arson attack on her house be conducted by the CBI.