BJP demands 'apology' from Congress on Rita Bahuguna issue

The BJP today condemned the alleged derogatory remarks of Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi against chief minister Mayawati and demanded an "apology" from the Congress' central leadership on the issue.

"Rita had crossed all limits of a political attack against a rival and in the process forgot the dignity of women," BJP Deputy Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters here.

"She cannot get away with such comments," she said, virtually justifying Joshi's arrest. BJP has been at the receiving end of Mayawati's ire in the Varun Gandhi hate speech case and a charge sheet was filed by the Uttar Pradesh government in the case yesterday.

Claiming that the apology tendered by Joshi was "full of ifs and buts", Swaraj demanded an apology from the central leadership of the Congress.

"Congress cannot get away by simply disassociating itself from her remarks. An apology would only help it (Congress) gain more stature," Swaraj said.

Noting that it was "natural" for BSP members in both Houses of Parliament to be agitated, she said an apology from the Congress leadership would help calm tempers.