archive: SP protected nation from foreign power, claims Mulayam Singh
SP protected nation from foreign power, claims Mulayam Singh
The Times of India Service
The Times of India
May 6, 1999
Title: SP protected nation from foreign power, claims Mulayam Singh
Author: The Times of India Service
Publication: The Times of India
Date: May 6, 1999
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was inordinately courteous
to the Lucknow press on Wednesday, describing it as an inseparable
part of his family. Absolving the media of any wrongdoing over the
questions on his party's likely alignment, he instead blamed the
Congress and the BJP for trying to create confusion.
Training his guns at the Congress, he said the Samajwadi Party had
saved the country from foreign power by refusing to extend
unconditional support for the installation of the minority Congress
government led by Sonia Gandhi.
When asked if he was opposed to Ms Gandhi's candidature only because
she was a foreigner, Mr Yadav said his party opined that crucial posts
like that of the president, vice - president, prime minister and Lok
Sabha speaker should not be held by a foreigner. His view was echoed
by Mohan Singh, a Samajwadi MP who said that he had moved a private
member bill to this effect in the winter session of the Lok Sabha.
However, the veiled attack against Ms Gandhi seemed to be part of a
new strategy adopted by Mr Yadav to counter the offensive launched
against him by the Congress.
This was further indicated by his aggressive posture on certain
remarks made against him by Uttar Pradesh Congress unit chief Salman
Kursheed.
Stating that he did not want to comment on Mr Kursheed, "who is not
even equal to the stature of a Samajwadi Party district president," he
claimed that he had enough material to prove that the Congress was
playing into the hands of a foreign power and he would disclose
everything at the appropriate time.
When asked to comment on the rumour about a tacit understanding
between him and the BJP, particularly chief minister Kalyan Singh who
is on record having praised him for not extending support to the
Congress, an irritated Mr Yadav said, "I fail to understand the basis
for this question and if at all there is anything to be asked on this
count, the BJP must be asked."
Alleging that the BJP had called him Maulana Mulayam and anti-Hindu
and indulged in a mud-slinging campaign against him, Mr Yadav stated
that he was not interested in the Congress or the BJP as the parties
were two sides of the same coin.
He suggested the two parties merge with each other to pursue their
hidden agenda of spreading caste and communal divides in the country.
He declined to comment on the remarks of BSP leader Mayawati, saying
that he had vowed not to do so. The former chief minister, exuding
confidence of the emergence of a Third Front as a force to reckon
with, said the Rashtriya Loktantrik Morcha was intact despite recent
differences.
He said RLM convener Laloo Prasad Yadav had vowed to make it a success
and there was no question to doubt his intention. Mr Yadav also
revealed that during recent telephonic conversations, Mr Laloo Yadav
had assured him that nothing could separate the two leader.
"I have no reason to see malice in his intention," Mr Yadav remarked,
adding that his party had kept its poll alliance options open.
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