Lucknow, July 20 - The Congress has alleged that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has 'rewarded' Intezar Abidi, a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader accused in the arson attack on its Congress state chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, by giving him a 'plum post'.

The Congress said Abidi has been appointed chairman of the State Sugar Corporation, a post equivalent to that of minister of state.

'From our reliable sources we have learnt that Abidi has been rewarded with the plum post. He was also seen travelling inside a red-beacon car,' Akhilesh Pratap Singh, the chief spokesperson of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, told IANS.

'By this it becomes very clear that Mayawati is not hesitant in giving patronage to criminals and anti-social elements...After all, it was she (Mayawati) who sponsored the attacks,' Singh said.

There has been no official statement by the state government on Abidi's new post and BSP leaders were unavailable for comment.