'Maya being vindictive in pursuing case against me'

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Mahendra Singh Tikait on Wednesday accused Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of "being vindictive" in pursuing the case against him for allegedly making a casteist remark against her.

The BKU leader made this comment against the backdrop of summons sent to him by a Bijnore court in the case.

"Despite holding such a respectable post, Mayawati is working with vengeance while pursuing case against me even after I had offered my apology," Tikait told reporters in New Delhi.

The farmer leader, whose party had already criticised the UP government's moves, said he would "once again fight for justice and is ready to go to jail".

Last week, Bijnore Chief Judicial Magistrate issued summons to Tikait asking him to appear before it on July 31.

Tikait had surrendered before the Bijnore court on April 2 after prolonged tension and clashes between state police and his supporters regarding his arrest, under the impression that the case against him will be withdrawn.

He said the UP government had made "a false promise" to him to get him to surrender.

The leader got bail from the court on the same day.

The BKU leader was accused of making casteist remarks about Mayawati at a rally in Bijnore on March 30. A criminal case under various sections of the IPC and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was lodged against him.