Mulayam apprehends centre sponsored raids on Amar Singh

Lucknow, June 6 (UNI) Samajwadi party supremo and Uttar pradesh chief minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today alleged that the the Congress government at the centre was conspiring to raid residence of senior party leader Amar Singh and his associates.

''We have specific information about raids on Mr Singh's permises and his associates in 4-5 days by the central agencies on the behest of the Congress regime,'' Mr Yadav alleged.

Addressing a news conference in presence of Mr Singh here, the Chief Minister alleged that the Congress was targetting his party.

''Through the raids, they will try to malign the image of the SP and its leaders.'' ''After the sting operation, this is the new ploy against us by the Congress for taking political revenge without any reason.'' Raising the issue of ''Congress conspiracy'' against leaders such as Om Prakash Chautala, Prakash Singh Badal, Jayalalithaa and Chandra Babu Naidu, the former union minister said after ordering ''vendetta fuelled raids'' against them by the central agencies, Congress was targetting Amar Singh.

He alleged that on directives of higher-ups in Congress, efforts were being made to implicate Mr Natwar Singh in the food-for-oil scam. ''Police had forced one Andaleep Sehgal to take Mr Natwar Singh's name in the case,'' he revealed.

Scoffing at people for raking the issue of his property, the CM said no one spoke about Congress leaders, ''who are leading lavish lifestyles and have acquired huge properties without holding any post.'' ''The properties, being claimed by Congress as disproportionate, are already listed in my affidavit with the Election Commission filed during the Lok Sabha polls,'' he claimed.

Mr Yadav also called upon party workers to be wary of the Congress 'conspiracy' and prepare for agitation against ''the evil designs.'' UNI MB VS YA GC1840