ndian Politician 'Should Be Raped' Uproar

An Indian politician has been arrested and her house set on fire for allegedly suggesting a rival should be raped to better understand the plight of sex attack victims.

Rita Bahguna Joshi (L) and Mayawati

Rita Bahuguna Joshi, chief of the Congress party in the northern Uttar Pradesh state, is being held for 14 days pending a probe into the matter.

It is alleged she promoted social enmity, insulted a woman's modesty and insulted a person of lower caste.

No charges have been filed yet, but the three offences are punishable by up to 10 years in jail.

Joshi's house in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow was set on fire on Wednesday night, hours after she made a speech criticising state Chief Minister Mayawati.

Victims should "throw the money at Mayawati's face and tell her, 'You should also be raped and I will give you 10 million rupees"'.

Rita Bahuguna Joshi's controversial comment

Mayawati, a single woman, belongs to the Bahujan Samaj Party which draws its support from the low-caste Hindus.

For centuries, those from low castes have remained underprivileged in India's deeply hierarchal society.

But, in recent years, members of low castes have achieved enormous political clout, which became evident when Mayawati took control of Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, in May 2007.

The Bahujan Samaj Party is a bitter rival of the Congress, which runs the federal government and some of India's 29 states.

After being arrested, Joshi said her comments were taken out of context.

Her speech was about the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh and the increasing number of rapes in the state.

I regret what I said in a fit of anger. If it is being misconstrued, if it's being misinterpreted, it is being taken out of context, then I regret it.

Rita Bahuguna Joshi

Citing cases in which some women were paid 25,000 rupees (£313) after being raped, Joshi said simply compensating them with money was not enough.

Victims who are raped should "throw the money at Mayawati's face and tell her, 'You should also be raped and I will give you 10 million rupees (£125,000)