Genre: News > India

Jul 16, 2009: Uttar Pradesh Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi, accused of making derogatory remarks against CM Mayawati, was on Thursday remanded to 14 days judicial custody.

Bahuguna, who allegedly made the comments at a public gathering in Moradabad, was arrested in Ghaziabad on Wednesday while she was heading to Delhi.

The state Congress chief has been booked under 153 A (delivering inflammatory speeches) and section 509 of IPC (using abusive language) besides under provisions of SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act.

Following her speech at the public meeting, Joshi's house in Lucknow was set afire allegedly by BSP workers last night.

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Background

Congress Party, which is also known as the Indian National Congress, is India's oldest party founded in 1885.

 

Dadabhai Naoroji, Surendranath Banerjee and Allan Octavian Hume are some of its founders.

 

The Indian National Congress spearheaded the Indian independence struggle, which was against the British rule in India.

 

After independence in 1947, it became one of India's most prominent political parties.

 

It also leads the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition.

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