Stung by a fresh CBI affidavit in a disproportionate assests case, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati on Saturday hit out at the Centre for "targeting" her at the behest of arch rival Samajwadi Party, but refused to divulge her strategy in the crucial trust vote on July 22.
The Uttar Pradesh chief minister also accused the Congress-led coalition of treating SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav with kidgloves despite a similar case pending against him and his family, and wondered, "What is the political pressure behind this?"
Addressing a press conference in the backdrop of the fresh move by the CBI against her, Mayawati was not at her combative best but sounded persuasive, and alleged that she was a victim of a "media trial".
"The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance should not be under any illusion that we will be intimidated and come under their pressure," Mayawati said but sidestepped questions over her party's stand on the trial of strength of the Manmohan Singh ministry on July 22.
Inspite of questions like her reported attempts to break Samajwadi Party MPs and about her strategy in the trust vote, her refrain was that she would hold a separate press conference to announce her decision.
Singling out the CBI director for attack, she said that filing the affidavit soon after her party's withdrawal of support to the Centre and before the trust vote, brings the action of the premier investigative agency under the "needle of suspicion".