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Congress not our enemy: Amar Singh

— Photo: H.Vibhu

FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE: The former Supreme Court judge, V.R. Krishna Iyer (right), with Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh (third from left), general secretary of the party Amar Singh (left) and PDP leader Abdul Nasir Maudany (third from right) at a “social justice meeting” in Kochi on Monday.

KOCHI: Samajwadi Party (SP) leaders Mulayam Singh and Amar Singh on Monday responded cautiously to reported overtures of the Congress for an electoral tie-up.

Though they said they were focussing on strengthening the UNPA (United National Progressive Alliance) and building it up as a ‘third alternative,’ they hinted at not closing the door altogether. “The Congress is not our enemy. It is our political rival,” Mr. Amar Singh told journalists here

He said the SP was part of the UNPA, a collective of regional parties, headed by Mr. Mulayam Singh. Some of them were anti-Congress and some others anti-BJP. “The SP cannot take decisions independently. We cannot decide it in isolation. The views of Left leaders are also important.”

Mr. Amar Singh said: “On April 19, as part of a conference to launch a national agitation against price rise, we will be meeting CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat and CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan.”

The Samajwadi Party leaders were here to attend a “social justice meeting” organised by Abdul Nasir Maudany’sPeople’s Democratic Party.On Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh’s observations in Kanpur on Sunday that the Congress was open to alliances with “anyone who would fight communal forces” and the SP had played a role in containing the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Amar Singh said: “Mr. Digvijay Singh is an old friend, I respect him a lot.”

Mr. Amar Singh appreciated the Congress’ realisation of the SP’s role in checking communal forces. “We accept this with gratitude. Our commitment to secularism is full and final.” He conceded that the Congress was a “major secular force” in the country.

Referring to a resolution at the Kanpur session of the State Congress on Sunday that criticised the SP, Mr. Amar Singh said he would not respond to this as it would create unnecessary bitterness.

He noted that the Congress and the SP parted ways not due to ideological reasons but only out of personal bitternesscreated by ‘some sections’ in the State Congress.

Mr. Amar Singh also came down heavily on the Mayawati government for its “corruption, suppression and inefficiency.”

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