Nothing abnormal between SP and Congres: Rajiv Shukla

Lucknow, May 28 (UNI) The Congress today denied any 'abnormal' proximity with Samajwadi Party, saying there was no chance of having truck with the opposition party in view of the coming Lok Sabha polls.

''We are as near or far with SP as with any party and nothing is brewing between us,'' AICC secretary and Rajya Sabha member Rajiv Shukla told reporters here.

Insisting that nothing much should be read into invitation of SP leaders at Prime Minister Monmohan Singh's dinner meeting, he said all those parties were invited who had extended support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre.

In reply to a question, the senior Congress leader said since the Mulayam singh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party had withdrawn the support only verbally, their leaders were invited. It may be recalled that SP general secretaries Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav had attended the dinner meeting early this month.

Mr Shukla said no special treatment was given to SP leaders and denied that there was any political equation developing between the two parties.

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