Mulayam fights Kalyan fire
SP president Mulayam Singh Yadav has blamed the media for creating confusion among the Muslims, particularly his party leaders, over the party’s latest friend and former BJP leader Kalyan Singh, reports Pankaj Jaiswal.
Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has blamed the media for creating confusion among the Muslims, particularly his party leaders, over the party’s latest friend and former BJP leader Kalyan Singh.
Yadav told reporters here on Monday that speculation was rife that the ties with Singh would affect the party’s Muslim vote bank. The situation worsened when the media quoted Yadav as saying that Singh, although he was the CM at the time of Babri demolition in 1992, was not responsible.
“I categorically say I never made any statements absolving Kalyan Singh of Babri demolition. My statement was twisted. The statement that I had made was that Kalyan Singh should have prevented the demolition,” Yadav said.
Since party’s founder-member Azam Khan and a few other Muslim leaders raised a banner of revolt, Yadav said, “I had to issue clarifications.” But added, “Kalyan did own up the responsibility eventually.”
Justifying ties with Singh, Yadav said, “Anyone who can prevent people like L.K. Advani and Narendra Modi from becoming prime minister is welcome in Samajwadi Party. Anyone who weakens the BJP is secular.”
Next, a Left turn?
The SP has initiated moves to build bridges with the Left. Party general secretary Amar Singh met CPI leader A.B. Bardhan on Monday to discuss “new political possibilities”. He is also expected to call on CPM general secretary Prakash Karat on Wednesday.
Sources said Singh called up Bardhan a few days ago, requesting a meeting. “The two exchanged notes but there was no commitment from either side,” Atul Kumar Anjan, CPI national secretary, said. A CPI source, requesting anonymity, said: “The SP wants to explore the possibility of being a part of the emerging third front. However, the CPI will take a decision only after consultation with other Left parties.”
(With inputs from Delhi)