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National

BJP rubbishes Amar Singh’s claim

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday rubbished the Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh’s claim that it offered the post of Prime Minister to Mulayam Singh in 2007 in exchange of support for the presidential candidature of Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Responding to questions at the party’s routine briefing, BJP spokesman Prakash Javdekar described Mr. Amar Singh’s claim as a “fictional tale with absolutely no basis.”

Congress stand

Demanding an explanation from the former External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh, who is said to have made the offer on the BJP’S behalf, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said this was in keeping with the BJP’s nature. “The BJP has still not come to terms with its defeat in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Amar Singh repeated the claim while addressing a press conference at his residence after meeting National Security Adviser M. K. Narayanan. “The UNPA rejected the offer,” he said.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr. Jaswant Singh visited Mr. Amar Singh’s residence and was closeted with the SP general secretary besides Mr. Mulayam Singh and Lok Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav.

Flurry of activity

Telugu Desam Party leader K. Yerrannaidu met CPI general secretary A.B. Bardhan and later told journalists that the Left position on the deal was clear and they were awaiting a decision from the government. The former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) president, H.D. Deve Gowda, visited the Ajoy Bhavan for a meeting with the CPI leadership.

Following these two meetings at the Ajoy Bhavan, Mr. Bardhan and CPI national secretary D. Raja went to the headquarters of the CPI(M) for a meeting with general secretary Prakash Karat.

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