Joshi`s remarks not pardonable, she will be punished: Mayawati

Lucknow, July 17 (PTI) Congress party President Sonia
Gandhi's disapproval of Rita Bahuguna Joshi's remarks
notwithstanding, India's northern state Uttar Pradesh Chief
Minister Mayawati on Friday said legal action against her
would continue and she would be punished.

She said Gandhi's disapproval of the UPCC chief's
remarks was more of a "compulsion in the wake of the declining
political graph of the Congress among the people, especially
Dalits".

Mayawati told a press conference that 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 said.

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

Mayawati, however, said that in view of Gandhi's
disapproval of the remarks against her, her party will not
disrupt business in both houses of Parliament.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati said, "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.

"I have come to know that 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," Mayawati said. PTI