SP threatens to withdraw support to UPA Govt

In a dramatic development, the Samajwadi Party threatened to withdraw support to the Congress-led UPA government for its failure to effectively tackle the issue of trans-border terrorism, report Srinand Jha and Saroj Nagi.See special

Hours after he threatened that his party would withdraw support to the UPA government for its alleged failure in tackling cross-border terror, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh changed tune after meeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

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Though he denied threatening a pull-out, Singh demanded decisive action against Pakistan which could include strikes on terror camps. The US should extend help to India, like it does to Israel, he said.

After meeting Sonia, Singh said: “I’m never dissatisfied after meeting the PM, Sonia Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee.” He denied any crisis.

Singh, who met Gandhi ahead of his party's parliamentary board meeting, said he sought action that would satisfy the masses. He denied his meeting was linked to the disproportionate assets case against Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Earlier in the day after meeting Mukherjee, Singh said: “Everybody except me in the party feels that the SP must withdraw support”. The government, he said, had failed to keep its assurance to Mulayam of acting against Pakistan within 15 days of the all party meeting held 40 days back. His statement is seen as posturing on strident nationalism to outdo the Congress ahead of the general elections.

The immediate provocation could be the backing of six BSP MLAs to the Gehlot government in Rajasthan, reportedly at Mayawati's behest. This put a question mark on the future of the Congress-SP alliance, including the seat-sharing talks in UP.