The Congress today tried to walk a tightrope, distancing itself from UP unit chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi’s alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati but at the same time declaring its intent to intensify its agitation against the BSP government. It called for action against those involved in vandalism and arson at Joshi’s house. The Congress leadership was learnt to be of the view that her arrest could not only mobilise party workers but also become a rallying point for anti-Mayawati forces, catapulting it eventually to the slot of the main Opposition in the state.

This realisation also appears to have dawned on other stakeholders in the state. The SP, which had joined the Congress this morning to protest against the law and order problems in the state, made a U-turn by evening with party leader Ram Gopal Yadav issuing a statement that the BSP and the Congress were hand-in-glove and the incident involving Joshi was a “drama”.

Similarly, there was confusion in the BJP rank and file. While Maneka Gandhi demanded the dismissal of Mayawati government, the party changed its line a few hours later, demanding an unconditional apology from Congress president Sonia Gandhi for Joshi’s remarks.

Gandhi who was said to have disapproved of Joshi’s remarks in her meeting with senior party office-bearers expressed “deep pain and anguish” over the events in UP. She has asked for the tapes of the recording of Joshi’s alleged remarks against Mayawati.

“Whatever has happened in UP is very unfortunate. The Congress president has expressed her deep pain and anguish over the events that have taken place in UP,” said AICC

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