The Hindu : National : Era of bitterness with Congress is over: SP

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 01, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Era of bitterness with Congress is over: SP

“We have to see what best can be done to avoid this crisis”

Amar Singh

New Delhi: The Samajwadi Party, whose 39 MPs can play a crucial role in helping the government if the Left parties withdraw support on the issue of nuclear deal, on Monday appeared to send signals that it was not averse to doing business with the Congress in the context of the crisis.

“National crisis does not belong to politics. This belongs to the nation. If the Prime Minister of India wants to engage in discussions, it is not wrong to talk [to him]. You may agree to disagree, but non-communication is the worst thing in politics,” SP leader Amar Singh said shortly on his return here from the United States.

Mr. Singh said raking up the past would only lead to bitterness.

“Politics should not be, I am emphasising, guided by egos, prejudices, hurt and personal egos. It should be taken in the true context. That is why we have to see what best can be done to avoid this crisis,” he told NDTV.

Mr. Singh said he had said before his trip that “it was time to go for [the] lesser evil.” This, he said, was said in the context of the “growing bonhomie” between Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati. The “cat is out of the bag” as was evidenced by Mr. Advani’s speech in Kanpur a couple of days ago.

“There is no talking point or meeting point. If there is some point which we have not taken care of or missed or if something is brought to our notice, we are open to going through it,” Mr. Singh said.

These remarks assumed significance in the context of speculation that the SP might side with the Congress in the Lok Sabha if the Left parties, with 59 MPs, withdrew outside support.

Mr. Singh said his party had a stated position on the nuclear deal and could not change it overnight. The Congress had not provided any position or reason for that.

Mr. Singh said he would consult his party colleagues and also meet CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat. He said his party would decide its stand at the meeting of the United National Progressive Alliance on July 3.

“Our stand is clear”

On the SP stand on supporting the United Progressive Alliance on the nuclear deal, Mr. Singh told PTI: “I cannot say anything on this, as the UPA and the Left are having discussions on the deal, and we are nowhere in the picture.”

“Our stand on the deal is clear in and outside Parliament. If some new facts on it are given to us, then we can think of proceeding further on the issue.”

Mr. Singh dismissed reports of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad mediating between the Congress and the SP.

“I am happy that the era of political bitterness [between the SP and the Congress] is over,” he said.

To a question whether the UPA government was safe, Mr. Singh said: “I don’t indulge in gambling. I would not like to hazard a guess.” — PTI

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National