On the same night, her house in Lucknow was set on fire, allegedly by a group of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) workers.

The state Congress chief was released from jail Saturday after being granted interim bail. She has apologised for her remarks and demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the arson attack on her house.

'After getting my residence set on fire by her goons, Mayawati can now also plan attacks on me. My life is in danger now, but I am not scared. I have lived a lot but I will continue to fight for the poor, the oppressed and for women's rights,' Joshi had said at a press conference here Monday.