IANS

Lucknow, Jul 20: 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.