No offer from BSP to Muslim MPs in our party: SP MP

Agencies Posted: Jul 08, 2008 at 1213 hrs
New Delhi, July 7: Amid reports that Bhaujan Samaj Party is trying to woo Muslim MPs of Samajwadi Party, a senior SP MP from the community on Tuesday denied that he has got such an offer from the Mayawati-led outfit.

"I have not being contacted by anybody from BSP with an offer to join the party," Salim Sherwani, SP MP from Badaun, told reporters on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Board meeting of the party in New Delhi.

Supporting the party's stand on the Indo-US nuclear deal, Sherwani said: "How can the deal be Muslim or Hindu. The deal can't be religious. It is in the national interest as India needs nuclear energy".

Sherwani also denied reports about discontentment among SP leaders over the issue.

"I have a good rapport with party leaders, especially Mulayam Singh ji and I am very much with the party. This is the reason why I have been elected as MP from Badaun for six times," he said.

None of the Muslim MPs are unhappy over the issue and the entire party supports the deal.

"Our country is short of energy and under this scenario we need this deal. It is good for the nation and I think we should all think about national interest," Sherwani said.