From 'Lal Salaam' to 'Dalal Salaam'

{image-advani LK_15072008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Jul 15 : They often correctly say - "there are no permanent foes or friends in politics". If one glances back a few years, the Samajwadi Party, which then ruled in Uttar Pradesh, had extended a five-star treatment to the BJP during its national executive meeting in Lucknow. Then it was an open secret that the SP had unofficially given a "state guest" honour to the BJP, because both were at a distance from the Congress, which virtually ruled, and still does, at the Centre.

That was an era when the SP and the BJP were hobnobbing behind the doors. 'Behind the doors" because of their politico-ideological compulsions - one is identified as having secular credentials and the other a 'communal' image. But, today, after seeing SP General General Secretary Amar Singh addressing a press conference and castigating BJP leader LK Advani for describing that he is a 'dalal', it became amply clear that once "behind the doors friends" are attacking each other.

Taking a strong exception to BJP leader LK Advani's recent remarks that the Congress had turned from doing 'Lal Salaam' to 'Dalal Salaam', Amar Singh said that it was only a matter of months when the BJP leader had changed the impression about him.

Recalling the "closed door meetings" between the SP and BJP till a few months ago, he said that the BJP had even gone to the extent of committing its support to a government led by SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav at the Centre. "But Mulayam Singh ji had on every occasion declined the offer, saying that the Samajwadi Party can't go along with the communal BJP," he added.

The connotations "Lal Salaam" and 'Dalal Salaam" are being used in regard to the Congress distancing itself away from the Communist parties (have red party flags) and turning to the Samajwadi Party (who had dalals like Amar Singh).

"Though Advani indirectly said the Congress was indulging in 'dalal salaam', his insinuation was directed at me. I want to recall that Advaniji had great affection for me till a few months ago, when he delivered a copy of his autobiography 'My Country My Life' through his daughter at my residence. It was because he had invited me at the launch of his book but I couldn't attend it. Also, Advaniji had himself handed over a copy of his book to Soniaji at her official residence because she also could not attend the book launch ceremony," said an infuriated looking Amar Singh.

He also referred to the meetings which took place at the residence of George Fernandes, and at other places including Hotel Maurya Sheraton, where senior BJP leader Jaswant Singh had committed his party's support to a Mulayam Singh-led government at the Centre in order to topple the Congress-led government.

But Mulayam Singhji refused saying that he can't sit in the same boat with the BJP, added Amar Singh at the press conference flanked by SP leader in Lok Sabha Prof Ram Gopal Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav, the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav.

ANI