Mayawati has spearheaded lawlessness in UP: Congress

Slamming Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Congress on Sunday accused the BSP supremo of "spearheading" lawlessness in the state and failing to understand the "pain of women".

"The Chief Minister has been spearheading total lawlessness in Uttar Pradesh over the last five years and being a woman she has never understood the pain of girls and women in the state," said UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi.

"Women are not secure during the Mayawati regime and rape incidents have increased in her tenure," she alleged.

Joshi was addressing a public rally in the district while campaigning for Congress candidates from Muradnagar and Modinagar constituencies ahead of the remaining two phases of polling in Uttar Pradesh.

The Congress leader alleged Mayawati had orchestrated the attack against her in 2009, when a portion of her house was set afire by alleged BSP supporters.

"We will launch an inquiry into the matter once we come to power," she said.

Joshi also accused the Samajwadi Party of spreading lawlessness in the state when it was at the helm and slammed the BJP for promoting "temple politics".

Urging voters to bring Congress back to power in Uttar Pradesh, Joshi claimed party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's mission this year was to bring "total development" in the state.