Rahul a mere kid, made to lie by Congmen: Mulayam

New Delhi, Apr 1 (UNI) Describing Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi as a ''mere kid'', Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today said the Congress was forcing him to utter lies on the Babri Masjid issue.

''Congressmen are destroying his personality; making poor Rahul lie on the (Ayodhya) issue, while knowing fully well their party leaders role in the Babri Masjid episode,''Mr Yadav said in an interview to CNN-IBN.

He dismissed Mr Gandhi's comments on the ''bad'' law and order situation in the state as sheer propaganda.

''I am being targetted because I am the son of a humble father.

You can get away by saying anything if you come from a family of high-ups,'' he said.

The Chief Minister also dismissed charges of promoting ''hereditary rule'' in the state by bringing his brothers and son in politics.

''Whether it is Shivpal Yadav, Ramgopal Yadav or Akhilesh Yadav...they have made their mark in politics through a struggle among the masses. They have not been directly brought from London and America to be imposed on the people,'' he said, indirectly referring to the Gandhi family.

Replying to a question, he said he would not join hands with either the BJP or the Congress to form a government after the elections.

''In fact, the Congress never supported us, but instead kept on conspiring against us...Our existence is on an anti-Congress and anti-BJP plank,'' said Mr Yadav.

The only way the country could get ''rid of these parties'' was the formation of a strong third front, he added.

He expressed gratitude to the CPI(M) for ''saving his government, which the Congress left no stone unturned to dismiss''.

The Chief Minister came out in strong defence of party general secretary Amar Singh, saying ''he had given his all to the party without taking anything from it''.

Mr Yadav also vehemently defended Mr Amitabh Bachchan's UP advertisement, saying a great personality cannot speak lies.

About Bachchan's 'UP mein Jurm Kam hai(Crime rate is low in UP)'' ad, Mr Yadav said he can substatiate this statement by giving Central figures about crime.

UNI