SP lashes out at Maya for accusing it of helping terror

Lucknow, Sep 21 (UNI) The Samajwadi Party today hit out at the allegation by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati that it was responsible for the spurt in terrorism in the state and accused the government of giving patronage to terrorists and leaders with criminal background.

Reiterating that the SP had always been against terrorism and taken appropriate steps to nail down the terrorist acts, SP state unit acting president Shivpal Singh Yadav said ''but the present BSP government is targeting the minorities in the name of terrorism, which is unfortunate.'' The party, which in the past had opposed the ban on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), today took a cautious pose, as Mr Yadav said the matter was in court and nothing should be commented on it.

Reacting to the allegation by the BSP supremo that the previous government in the state had seen spurt in terrorist acts, he said the CM should look after her own government rather than making wild allegations against the Opposition.

''In the present government, police and officials are only interested in collecting money rather than look over the deteriorating law and order in the state,'' Mr Yadav said while alleging that the charges by Ms Mayawati were just to malign the image of the SP.

Hitting hard at the government, he said the BSP MP of Azamgarh was openly giving patronage to the terrorists and had even asked the people of Saraimeer to chase the police and the intelligence officials, if they came to their area.

Commenting on the rampant transfers of the officials, the SP president said only those officials were given plum postings, who were paying the government.

UNI MB JAS ARB CS1822