Rita Bahuguna Joshi Arrested for Rape Comments to Dalit Mayawati

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Source: Times Online

A rival’s suggestion that India’s most powerful “Untouchable” leader should be raped so she can better understand the victims of sexual crimes has caused a political maelstrom.

The remarks were made by Rita Bahuguna Joshi, the leader of the Congress party in Uttar Pradesh, in a speech that attacked Mayawati, the Dalit, or Untouchable, chief minister of the state.

Ms Joshi criticised the award of 25,000 rupees (£310) each in compensation to several Dalit rape victims in Uttar Pradesh and said that the women should “throw the money at Mayawati’s face and tell her ‘you should also be raped and I will give you ten million rupees’ ”.

Hours later Ms Joshi was arrested, accused of promoting social enmity, insulting a woman’s modesty and insulting a person of lower caste. Her house was burnt down, allegedly by supporters of Mayawati.

Munni, a maid for Ms Joshi, said: “A group of masked men stormed into the house, raising slogans against Joshi and for Mayawati.

“They were armed with iron rods, sticks and petrol cans — several policemen were there but remained mute spectators.”

Ms Joshi was kept in judicial custody for 14 days and refused bail. She could serve ten years if found guilty.

Mayawati’s political rivals said that the decision to arrest Ms Joshi, the legitimacy of which was questioned by lawyers, was typical of the so-called Dalit Queen, a former teacher who rocked the Establishment by courting India’s most oppressed community.

The 150 million Dalits in India occupy the lowest rungs of Hinduism’s caste system but they have emerged as a key vote bank since independence.

more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6717148.ece