'Why should I be jailed, Mulayam Singh Ji?'

New Delhi, May 28 : Taking a strong exception to Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav's demand that he be jailed, Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh today said he had not committed any crime but a miniscule group of people percieved his step for reservations in educational institutions as a crime.

Asserting that he would contact the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister soon after his return from Saudi Arabia and the UAE to find out the rationale for his demand for ''my imprisonment,'' Mr Singh wondered how the SP could make such a demand when it was party to the passage of the reservation bill in Parliament.

In a crisp three-para communication to Mr Yadav, Mr Singh referred to the latter's statment in Lucknow two days ago, and said: ''So far my memory goes, I have not committed any crime for being despatched to jail.'' Mr Singh, who embarks tomorrow on a nine-day visit to the two West Asian countries, said his only crime in the perception of a small group of people was to forge a consensus among all political parties for the passage of a bill that would provide for reservations to the members of OBCs in higher educational institutions.

''I am going on a visit to Saudi Arabia tomorrow and will contact you on my return on June 6 to ascertain what crime I have committed in your perception for going to jail.'' On Friday, Mr Yadav had said in Lucknow that the HRD Minister should be jailed for raking up the reservation issue during the assembly elections in four states.

''Mr Singh should be in jail for trying to derive political mileage out of the reservation issue,'' he said, while addressing the conclave of SP Mahila Sabha.

He also pointed out that Uttar Pradesh was the first state to introduce 27 per cent reservation to OBCs in higher education way back in 1994.

Mr Yadav said Mr Singh should be lodged in jail for raking up the reservation issue to influence voters in favour of the Congress.

''When the Election Commission (EC) can order FIR against Shivpal Singh Yadav for merely announcing development works in Rae Bareli, then Mr Singh should be in jail for his comment,'' he argued.

UNI