New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi was on Thursday in the eye of a storm as her allegedly derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati drew condemnation from political parties across the spectrum and disapproval from Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
Gandhi expressed "deep pain and anguish" over what has happened in UP, AICC General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi quoted her as saying.
Dwivedi told reporters that the party regrets the personal elements in reference to Chief Minister Mayawati in Joshi's remarks.
BJP's Deputy leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj said, "Rita had crossed all limits of political attack against a rival and in the process forgot the dignity of women." she told reporters, adding "she cannot get away with such comments."
Swaraj sought an apology from Congress over Joshi's remarks.
"Congress cannot get away by simply disassociating itself from her remarks. An apology would only help it (Congress) gain more stature," she said.
Terming the comments as slanderous, DMK MP Kanimozhi said, "Women should avoid such a slanderous thing."
"We condemn Joshi's statement. What happened after that (burning of Joshi's house in Lucknow allegedly by BSP supporters) also should not have happened," CPI leader D Raja said.
Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party MP and son of SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, however had a different take on the matter as he focused attack more on the BSP government in the state for allegedly using SC/ST Act in a wrong manner.
"There are many examples where SC/ST Act has been falsely invoked. Law and order has completely broken down under BSP rule in UP. The question is not of the statement, but is about invoking serious Acts falsely. Police is acting on the orders of BSP," he said.