Congress accused of protecting Mayawati

The Bharatiya Janata Party has charged the ruling Congress party of trying to protect the Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati for political considerations.

The Central Bureau of Investigation has announced its decision to close the Taj Corridor case involving Mayawati. The scandal came to light while Mayawati served as chief minister of Uttar Pradesh.

The CBI announcement came after attorney general Milon Banerjee gave his opinion that the case is only fit for a departmental inquiry.

BJP's Uttar Pradesh unit chief Kesari Nath Tripathi said yesterday that the Congress was putting pressure on the CBI to close the case.

"Let the CBI put all facts before the Supreme Court to so that it can decide on the matter instead of recommending closure of the case," Tripathi said.

CBI had started its inquiry about possible involvement of Mayawati in the Taj Corridor case at Supreme Court's intervention while BJP ruled the country.

Interestingly, the CBI's controversial announcement came as the best possible gift by the present government while she celebrated her birthday yesterday.

With Mayawati blaming the BJP for falsely implicating her in the case and hinting at a possible tie-up with the Congress, political circles feel that the stage is being readied to hold snap polls in Uttar Pradesh.

Mayawati had resisted offers from the Congress party to align with it during last year's general elections. She, however, changed her mind the moment the announcement was made to close the case against her, giving further rise to speculations in this matter.

Congress party has already served a virtual notice to the state's ruling Samajwadi Party, saying it will be forwarded to reconsider its support to it if the law and order situation in the state does not improve within the next fortnight.

Congress and BSP together can emerge as a strong contender for power in the state.