'My intention was to remind Mayawati that being a woman she should realise that a paltry monetary compensation cannot make up for what a woman loses on account of rape,' she added.

Talking about the attack on Joshi's house, her 50-year-old maid Munni said: 'Close to midnight a group of masked men stormed into the house, raising slogans against Joshi and for Mayawati.

'They were armed with iron rods, sticks and petrol cans. They went about breaking everything before sprinkling petrol and throwing a matchstick to set the house ablaze. The fire raged for nearly two hours and several policemen were there but remained mute spectators. Later, four servants were taken away in a police vehicle. I managed to hide in one of the toilets.'