Joshi arson case suspect given plum post: Congress
July 20th, 2009 - 2:36 pm ICT by IANS
Lucknow, July 20 (IANS) The Congress has alleged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has “rewarded” Intezar Abidi, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader accused in the arson attack on its Congress state chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, by giving him a “plum post”.
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 inside 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.
The Congress said it would continue to mount pressure on the state government to recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the arson case.
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.
- Joshi arson case suspect 'rewarded' with plum post: Congress (Second Lead) - Jul 20, 2009
- Joshi arson case suspect given plum post: Congress (Lead) - Jul 20, 2009
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- Two BSP leaders held for 2009 arson attack - Mar 04, 2011
- Court dismisses Rita Bahuguna Joshi's plea - Mar 21, 2012
- BSP workers hold 'anti-Joshi' rallies, take pride in arson - Jul 22, 2009
- Mayawati orders arrest of party leader - Jun 19, 2011
- Rita Bahuguna's plea sent to high court chief justice - Nov 08, 2011
- Congress holds Mayawati guilty for attack on Joshi's Lucknow house - Jul 25, 2009
- UP Congress chief Joshi moves court, seeks CBI probe for Lucknow arson attack - Jul 22, 2009
- Mayawati suspends legislator - Sep 29, 2011
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- Verma seeks post-poll ties with BSP, Congress terms it personal view (Lead) - Mar 04, 2012
- Mayawati rewards Joshi attacker with state board chairmanship - Jul 20, 2009
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Tags: arson attack, arson case, bahujan samaj party, castes, cbi inquiry, central bureau of investigation, chief minister, chief spokesperson, dalit, joshi, legislator, lucknow, Mayawati, minister of state, moradabad, police report, pratap singh, reliable sources, social elements, state chief