'Mulayam supporting Cong to escape from CBI clutches'

Agencies Posted: Jul 01, 2008 at 1558 hrs
Lucknow, July 1: Playing the Muslim card, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday alleged that Mulayam Singh Yadav has decided to support the Congress on the Indo-US nuclear deal because Congress-led government at the Centre has put on hold all the CBI inquiries against him.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow, she said the nuclear deal, which was being widely opposed in the country, has angered the Muslims and was being done at the cost of cheap gas from Iran.

Accusing the SP and Congress of spreading word that her party was getting close to BJP, Mayawati said the "opportunist" SP appeared to have agreed to support the Congress on the Nuclear deal issue to save its top leaders and sympathisers from the CBI clutches.

Yadav and SP leader Amar Singh hit back at Mayawati saying she was trying to align with BJP and accused her of campaigning for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gujarat elections.

Mayawati said "It is my advice to the left parties who have been opposing the nuclear deal that Samajwadi Party is an opportunist party which for its petty personal interests could join hands with anyone and let down their friends."

The BSP supremo said that it was no secret that the CBI inquiries Yadav's family and sympathisers had been put on hold and in turn, the SP has agreed to support the UPA government on the nuclear deal issue.