This Article is From Jul 18, 2009

UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna gets bail

UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna gets bail
Moradabad:

Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi got bail from the Moradabad court on Saturday. Rita was arrested late Wednesday night after making derogatory remarks against UP CM Mayawati. She was sent to 14-day judicial custody.

Not only was Rita arrested, but her house was also vandalised and set on fire.

A case was registered against two BSP leaders on charges of setting fire to Rita's house in Lucknow. The two leaders named in the FIR are Lucknow BSP chief Intezaar Ali and Jitender Singh Babloo. Rita had named the latter in her complaint to the police.

The Mayawati government charged Rita with delivering an inflammatory speech, using abusive language under the SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act that is a non-bailable offence.

Clearly, politicians have short memories. Few years ago Mayawati had criticised Mulayam Singh Yadav for distributing compensation to Muslim women who were raped.

"If Mulayam Singh's relatives were raped, would he give them compensation?" Mayawati had said in 2007.

Rita's arrest had sparked off sharp reactions from Congress.

Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi took sides on the distasteful words used by his party colleague Rita Bahuguna against Mayawati. He said the words Ms Bahuguna used were wrong but he understood her anger.

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