Lucknow: Samajwadi Party president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh on Sunday criticised the UPA Government for ``using Governors as tools to destabilise State Governments.''

``Today, what we are witnessing is not politics of principles, but vendetta,'' he told a rally of the SP youth wing here.

He said the gubernatorial offices were increasingly being used to ``destabilise State Governments headed by non-Congress parties.'' The Centre was ``misusing'' powers, through several government agencies, to seek vendetta against political rivals.

``The SP is the Congress' most favourite target...but I compliment the judiciary for ensuring that the State Governments continue in office,'' he said.

On the phone tapping issue, he said the Centre was ``caught off guard'' this time. ``Initially, Home Minister Shivraj Patil claimed no phones were being tapped...later he called me up to confirm there had been tapping, but maintained that forged documents were used for the purpose.''

He lauded party general secretary Amar Singh for exposing the Government by using his personal resources. ``Had it not been for Mr. Singh, the phone tapping would have continued.''

A real danger

Welcoming the Supreme Court ruling on the dissolution of the Bihar Assembly, he said Governors such as Buta Singh posed a real danger for democracy. ``But he alone cannot be blamed for the dissolution...he has claimed that the Centre was fully aware of the circumstances,'' he said.

Mr. Singh also slammed the Centre for failing to keep ``communal forces'' at bay. ``I will talk to the Left party leaders on the issue.''

He said that the rally was not a show of strength, but an ``introspection exercise'' to enable the youth understand present day polity.

``The youth should learn the real meaning of revolution and struggle. They should know the factors, which help a party run a state or the nation,'' he said.

Disinformation campaign

Mr. Singh said that despite the ``disinformation campaign'' mounted by the Opposition, people could observe the difference between the rule of the SP and its predecessors.

``Today, the roads are in good shape, arrangements are being made to meet increasing power demand, most criminals are either dead or behind bars.''

He claimed his Government was encouraging agriculture in the State.

``In case India faces a foodgrains crisis, I want Uttar Pradesh to feed the entire country.'' — UNI

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