I am not an ISI agent, says Mulayam

Reacting to a book by a former Intelligence Bureau official alleging that the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and some legislators have links to Pakistan's secret service Inter-Services Intelligence, Chief Minister Mulayam Singh has asked whether the claim was due to a failed raid on Nadwa -- a prominent Muslim seminary.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister said, chapter 12 of Fulcrum of evil: ISI, CIA and Al Quaeda nexus by former joint director of IB Moloy Krishna Dhar claiming his links with ISI, was just a 'reaction' to the central organisation's ''failed raid'' on Nadwa in 1995.

Replying to the issue raised by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state legislative assembly, Yadav said the IB had raided Nadwa in 1995.

''But, when I intervened and got the raid aborted, IB officials were furious... I had even got FIRs lodged against them,'' he said.

He also maintained the writer had a BJP mindset, which made him make such remarks.

Meanwhile, Dhar told UNI over telephone from New Delhi he would not like to comment on a politician's reaction.

''I have written, whatever I had to say...I will not say anything more,'' he underlined.

Yadav's reaction came months after Dhar's book hit the stands.

The matter was initially raised by BJP leaders Keshrinath Tripathi and Lalji Tandon, who read portions from the book in the house.

Reacting to the BJP's move, SP legislators raised a din in the house. But, the BJP clarified since the book had not mentioned the name of Yadav having links with ISI, the BJP too would not like to reach at any conclusion. ''But, this is a serious matter,'' said Tripathi.

The raid, which had created a furore in political circles, was carried out at Nadwa in search of some suspects involved in kidnapping of two British tourists.