Rita Bahuguna Joshi fears for life

LUCKNOW: Reiterating her demand for a CBI enquiry into the attack on her residence, which was set on fire by alleged BSP leaders, Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said she now feared for her life and claimed BSP czarina Mayawati could instigate attacks on her.

Ms Joshi, who arrived in the state capital on Monday, said her life was in danger, but would not get scared and continue to fight for the backwards and women. A combative Ms Joshi said the incident of her house being vandalised and being set on fire was state-sponsored hooliganism. She said the CB-CID enquiry, ordered by the state government, was not enough and was likely to be manipulated, and her party has demanded a CBI enquiry into the whole incident.

Meanwhile, reports say that CM Mayawati has rewarded Intezar Ahmed Abdi, allegedly involved in the attack on Ms Joshi���s residence, with a plum post. Mr Abdi has been appointed as chairman of Ganna Sansthan, a post equivalent to that of minister of state. But BSP said his name for the post had been cleared more than a week back.