Mayawati promises to assist in smooth conduct of Parliament

With Congress chief Sonia Gandhi disapproving of UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi's remarks against her, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati today said her party will now ensure peaceful conduct in both houses of Parliament.  

"I have come to know that Congress president Sonia Gandhi has expressed deep pain and anguish over Joshi's reprehensive and indecent remarks against me. Therefore, in the interest of the country and the people, the party has decided to assist in peaceful and smooth conduct of both houses of Parliament," she told reporters.  

The Chief Minister, however, said Gandhi's disapproval was more of a "compulsion in the wake of the declining political graph of the Congress among the people specially Dalits.  

"After my statement that Joshi made derogatory remarks against me in Moradabad on the directives of the Congress high command, Sonia Gandhi was compelled to express anguish and pain because of the declining goodwill of the party," she claimed.   

Mayawati said the "reprehensive" and "derogatory" remarks made by Joshi were "not at all pardonable".  

"Whatever legal action is being taken against Joshi on her July 15 remarks against me will continue and like Varun Gandhi, she may get bail, but it will not minimise the intensity of her crime," she added.   

"Sooner or later she will be punished for the crime she has committed as per law," Mayawati added.

"Expressing different opinion on various issues is common for political parties and their leaders, but making such derogatory and highly objectionable remarks in place of healthy criticism is not in the interest of the democratic set up," the BSP leader said.

"Personally, and on behalf of the party, I express gratitude towards leaders of political parties who condemned Joshi's remarks against me," she said.   

Mayawati also warned Congress workers not to take law in their hand over this issue.  

"I would like to warn Congress workers that in a bid to distract people's attention they should neither take law in their hand nor try to repeat Lucknow type of incident, otherwise they will be dealt with strictly," she said.   

The Chief Minister added that Congress workers, who held demonstrations at a few places in the state, should not underestimate the strength of BSP activists and consider them "weak".   

She claimed that any agitation by BSP cadre could have resulted in law and order situation not only in UP but across the country.  

"This could have resulted in imposition of President's rule in the country. To avoid this situation and keeping in mind the dignity of the Constitution, I issued a special appeal to my workers to maintain peace and calm."