''We not sadhu samaj party'' might join Manmohan government: Amar

Lucknow, Jul 28 (UNI) Samajwadi Party has not ruled out its joining the Manmohan Singh government at the Centre though there was no demand for it before supporting the UPA during the Confidence Motion.

SP general secretary Amar Singh said here the decision to join the Centre would be taken either by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav or the Prime Minister or Ms Sonia Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference here today after the day-long meeting of the party's state executives, Mr Singh, however, clarified that till date there is no decision by the party to join the government nor was there any invitation from the UPA.

''We are not a sadhu samaj party, but as a political party we will have to see our own and the nation's interest before taking any decision'', he further explained.

Criticising the opposition, particularly the Left and the BJP for opposing the civil nuclear deal, he said the SP had only seen the national interest in supporting the deal. ''while, the Left are opposing the deal due to the United States, while, the others for involement of Congress, which is not justified for greater national interest'', he said.

''We think L K Advani is more dangerous than George Bush and it is unfortunate that secular Left and other parties have joined the bandwagon of the communal forces by opposing the nuke deal'', he alleged.

Lambasting the parties terming the deal as anti-national, Mr Singh said support of former president APJ Abdul Kalam and Kashmir's national Conference leader Omar Abdullah on the deal proves that muslims favour this deal. ''Every citizen is first an Indian and then a Hindu or a Muslim'', he said.

Reacting to the BJP's charges on the UPA government over cash-for-vote scam, the SP leader said everyone knows about the corrupt practises of the BJP leaders and how their former president Bangaru Laxman and others were caught on camera accepting bribe.

Condemnding the terrorist act at Ahmedabad and Bangalore, Mr Sibgh said now, it was the high time for all political parties to unite and fight against the menance. ''No politics should be done in the name of terrorism like being done by the BJP'', he said adding that issues like internal and external security, health, education, welfare and development should be kept out of the perview of any politics.

UNI MB PDM AKJ RK1935