SP leaders non-committal on joining Government

New Delhi, Aug 5 (UNI) After initial signals of its interest in joining the Government, the Samajwadi Party today sounded non-committal when its top leaders said obtaining berths in the Cabinet was not important for them at all.

Party General Secretray Amar Singh said though the SP was the second largest party supporting the ruling Alliance, joining the Government was not their priority.

There was no immediate move to join the ruling Coalition, said Mr Singh and also pary chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

''We had supported the Government only in national interest,'' stressed Mr Yadav.

They were talking to reporters at the residence of veteran party leader Janeswar Mishra whom they had come wish on his 76th birthday.

Mr Amar Singh said the party had emerged as a major force on the national scene, which carried more meaning for them than joining the Government.

The party General Secretary also said Mr Yadav was a leader of national importance, and narrated how the SP leader was praised by Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai at the Presidential Banquet last night.

Mr Karzai held Mr Yadav in great esteeem, he added.

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