Bhadohi: UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi
on Thursday jumped in defence of union minister of state for
External Affairs Shashi Tharoor over travelling in economy
class, but later retracted, when pointed out that the party
has already condemned his statement.
"I have seen the comments by the minister describing
economy class, as cattle class and they have been distorted by
the media," Joshi told newspersons here.
However, when pointed out that the party leadership has
already condemned Tharoor`s statement, she quickly retracted
saying that if they are the ones that are being mentioned in
the media, she herself was against them.
The UPCC chief, who earlier took part in a meeting at the
party office here said, "Curbing expenditure of ministers has
been the tradition since the Nehru-Gandhi era and this is
Congress history."
Criticising the Mayawati government, she said that it was
working in an arbitrary manner and crushing agitations of the
opposition parties.
It is an unconstitutional government which has been
flouting the apex court and today`s foundation laying of
Kanshi Ram eco park in Lucknow is another example as to how
public funds could be misutilised, she said.
On Samajwadi Party, Joshi said that its recent five-day
long agitation was the first such programme by that party
against the Mayawati government, while Congress already has
organised eight such protests.
Bureau Report
