Mulayam refuses to step down after SC decision

Lucknow, Feb 14 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said he was unfazed by the Supreme Court ruling disqualifying 13 Loktantrik Bahujan Dal (LBD) MLAs, who had joined his Samajwadi Party to enable him form a government, and refused to step down on moral grounds.

The SP supremo asserted that his government enjoyed the confidence of the House. ''We had won majority on January 25 in the House. If need be, we will once again prove the same,'' he told reporters soon after the judgement.

He said as the assembly elections were due shortly, there was no need to step down at this juncture.

The Chief Minister also termed the disqualified MLAs 'martyrs' and said there was no question of their resignation from the post of ministers or chairmen of different corporations.

Welcoming the decision of the apex court, he said he had always honourned and respected the judiciary and the verdict has certainly strengthened the democratic norms in the country.

When asked if the constitution of the government in 2003 was undemocratic, he said when the assembly polls are just months ahead then why the opposition parties are worrying about the issue. ''Now it is for the people to decide who was wrong and who was right,'' he said.

Mr Yadav, however, clarified that he had to form the government in August, 2003 to ''fulfill the aspirations of the people and to prevent mid-term polls in the state''.

Earlier today, a five-member Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court in its unanimous verdict, held that 13 MLAs of the breakaway group, who had defected from BSP on August 27, 2003, were guilty of defection and disqualified them as MLAs.

The apex court also held that the split in the political parties has to be prima facie demonstrated and claims of a split do not matter.

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