Terror: Amar flip,from ‘threat’ to govt to praise

Earlier in the day,emerging from a meeting with Mukherjee,the SP leader said his party colleagues were “really unhappy” at the Government’s failure to take action against Pakistan. “A majority of them are of the view that we should withdraw support to the UPA… our parliamentary board will be meeting tomorrow and we may consider withdrawing support to the UPA Government,” Singh had declared.

His veiled threat had come a day after the Supreme Court pulled up the CBI for its flip-flop on the disproportionate assets case against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav. Amar Singh,however,asserted that he was not upset about any court observation. “We have enough documents to prove that Mulayam Singh Yadav is above board. My visit to 10,Janpath has nothing to do with the case,” he said.

Singh said,“I didn’t say we are withdrawing support. Our people are angry that the government is not attacking despite strong evidence that Kasab is a Pakistani citizen… We want action to be taken. Pranab Mukherjee understood our concerns. But the Government has its own way of functioning… We are not like the Left to issue threats.”

The SP’s threat of withdrawal of support,though retracted later,betrayed unease in the party over procrastination in finalising the seat sharing arrangement with the Congress in Uttar Pradesh for Lok Sabha election. Their talks are stalled over certain seats on which the Congress is laying claim.

The SP leadership was also upset after four of its MLAs defected to the Congress ahead of the Assembly election in Madhya Pradesh. Besides,the Congress is also said to be in touch with the SP’s Karnataka unit,a large section of which is said to be in favour of a merger with the ruling party at the Centre.