The Hindu : New Delhi News : Paswan comes to Kalyan’s rescue

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Paswan comes to Kalyan’s rescue

LJP chief’s comments after Lalu’s swipe show differences in Fourth Front

New Delhi: Differences in the Fourth Front over the relationship between Kalyan Singh and Samajwadi Party deepened today with Lok Jan Shakti Party chief Ramvilas Paswan on Sunday jumping to the defence of the former BJP leader, a day after he was described as a “convict” in the Babri Masjid demolition case by a clearly unhappy Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad.

“Kalyanji will remain with us. He is with Mulayam Singh. Kalyan Singh has said two big leaders had given assurance that such things will not happen,” Mr. Paswan said.

The LJP chief’s comments came after Mr. Prasad had said that Kalyan Singh was a “convict” in the Babri Masjid demolition case and questioned his role as a star campaigner for SP which is contesting Lok Sabha polls in alliance with RJD.

“He [Kalyan] is a convict in the demolition of the Babri Masjid... Is he a member of SP?.. He is not a member of the SP,” Mr. Prasad said in Patna on Saturday.

Kalyan Singh, who was the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh when the Babri Masjid was demolished in Ayodhya on December 6, 1992, is an accused in the case. Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, he quit the BJP to join hands with his erstwhile detractor Mulayam Singh.

On Prasad’s attack, Kalyan Singh said “he is referring to the past, he should speak about the present. Muslims have accepted me and I am comfortable with them, this is the fact today.”

Meanwhile, Mulayam Singh said Kalyan Singh has always fought for the welfare of farmers like him. — PTI

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