SP to maintain equidistance from BJP, Cong

The Samajwadi Party has taken up the slogan of social transformation8217; of the Bahujan Samaj Party BSP, its arch political rival, in place of its fight for social justice.

In an attempt to rob the BSP of its main plank, the SP manifesto declared that it was committed to samajik parivartan social transformation for ensuring adequate power share in the State to minorites, Dalits and other backward classes in order to break the monopoly of the upper castes in the administration and other sphere of life.

The SP assured the release of Terrorost and Disruptive Activities Prevention Act detenues, justified the Justice Srikrishna Commission report on the Mumbai riots and assured its implementation.

The manifesto opposed the abolition of Article 370 of the Constitution, which gurantees special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and supported the retention of Article 356 for the stipulated use by the Central Government to dismiss a State Government.

Amid fears that the Samajwadi Party8217;s strong Muslim vote bank could drift to the Congress in the wake of Mulayam Singh putting an obstacle in the formation of an alternative dispensation, the manifesto came out with a series of promises for the Muslims and backward classes. These included reservations for Muslims, Dalits and other minorities in jobs, quota in admissions to medical and engineering colleges through constitutional amendments, besides asssuring non-interference in the Muslim personal law.

Singh stuck to his earlier stand that women belonging to the weaker sections of society and minorities should have a quota within the stipulated 33 per cent reservation of seats for women in Parliament and State Assemblies.

Claiming that there was a direct fight between his party and the ruling BJP in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav observed that the Congress, like in the previous election, would not be able to open its account.

In the last Lok Sabha elections, the SP had secured only 20 seats from Uttar Pradesh. However, Yadav said his party would win 60 of the 85 seats in the State this time.

Asked about the compulsion to contest the Lok Sabha poll from two seats 8212; Sambhal and Kannauj, Mulayam Singh said there was no compulsion except to ensure that his election did not demoralise party workers.

Yadav advocated the presenece of the Third Force and said such a leadership would quot;emerge automaticallyquot; in the advent of a formation of governemnt as had occurred on two previous occasions.

The former Defence minister lambasted the Vajpayee Government for coming out with a nuclear doctrine when the election process had begun and described it as a dangerous trend.

The SP chief evaded a reply to a question on whether his party would support laloo Prasad Yadav8217;s Rashtriya Janata Dal, pitted against the National Democratic Alliance partners of the BJP, Samata Party and Janata Dal United in Bihar.

The Samajwadi Party has promised a separate pay commission for the para-military and military forces, besides changing the police manual to transform the police force to a lok sevak public servant, instead of being an instrument of atrocities.

The party has also made many promises to farmers, youths and other sections of society.