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I am ready to go to jail, says Mulayam Singh

Special Correspondent

`But will not make statement to the CBI'

Mulayam Singh

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh has said that he and his Samajwadi Party respected the Supreme Court directives but will not cooperate with the Central Bureau of Investigation in the disproportionate assets case.

Addressing an election rally in Baghpat on Thursday, Mr. Singh said he is willing to go to jail but will not give any statement to the CBI. The Chief Minister dubbed the CBI as a tool in Congress hands. He claimed that it would be the first case of its kind wherein the CBI would find out whether the scandal existed or not.

Launching his party's election campaign from Baghpat, the Chief Minister lashed out against Rashtriya Lok Dal president and one-time ally Ajit Singh for his failure to follow the coalition dharma. Mr. Singh said he helped the RLD president by defying all odds but the latter conspired with the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party to topple the Samajwadi Party Government.

The Chief Minister said the Congress was more interested in toppling his Government than checking the BJP's inroads, adding that the Congress obsession had manifested itself in the party's defeat at the hands of the BJP in Uttarakhand and Punjab.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Sanjay Singh on Friday assailed Mr. Yadav for his statement. Talking to newspersons, Dr. Singh said that the Mr Yadav's statement revealed his utter contempt for the Constitution. By stating that he would not cooperate with the CBI, he said, Mr. Singh had created an unprecedented situation.

The Congress leader alleged that by refusing to cooperate with the investigating agency, Mr. Singh wanted to conceal some facts. Dr. Singh claimed that the Chief Minister was apprehensive that the CBI probe would upset his election plans.

PTI adds: ``I have full faith in the Supreme Court but not in the CBI....,'' the Samajwadi Party chief said. He alleged that the PIL, on which the apex court's direction was issued, was filed at Congress' behest after it failed to dismiss his Government and impose President's rule in the State.

The PIL had charged Mr. Yadav and his family with amassing assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.

Claiming that the BJP could become a ``major power'' in coming days, he urged the Muslim electorate to vote for his party as only SP can stop the saffron party.

He also criticised the UPA Government's foreign policy

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