Amid reports of an aggressive BSP trying to woo dissenting Samajwadi Party MPs, leaders of the Mulayam Singh Yadav's party are working overtime to redress their grievances over the decision to back UPA on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
Many Muslim MPs of the SP have come out in support of the party high command's decision, saying they are solidly behind Yadav.
Terming dissident Munnawar Hasan (from Muzaffarnagar) an opportunist, Ruab Sayeeda (from Bahraich) said that he is the lone Mulsim MP to have expressed his views against the party high command.
"All necessary explanations were sought from relevant authorities including former president A P J Abdul Kalam. Now there are no doubts either in the party leadership or among MPs," said Sayeeda who is also the wife of senior party leader and MLA Waqar Ahmed Shah said.
Party MPs Rashid Masood, Shafiqur Rehman Burq and Salim Shervani also said that they had no doubts and the nuclear deal is not anti-Muslim. They criticised BSP president Mayawati for giving the controversy a communal colour.
Sayeeda warned Muslims and their religious leaders against falling prey to her gameplan. "Muslims are not a separate entity and if the deal is in national interest, the community cannot keep harping on a mere speculation."
Criticising Mayawati, Sayeeda said her recent moves are another attempt to deceive the Muslim community. She said the BSP leader was earlier aligning with the BJP to grab power.
Sayeeda said leaders like Raj Babbar and Beni Prasad Verma have also supported the SP on the issue and will be following the party whip.
Expressing similar views, Rashid Masood from Saharanpur said that even the two main sects of the Muslims representing the Deoband the Barelivi school of thoughts have viewed that the deal is not against Muslims.
Shafiqur Rehman Burq from Moradabad said that Mayawati had been playing politics on the issue and trying to portray herself as the well wisher of Muslim community. "Instead of saying such things, she should have done something worthwhile for their welfare."
Salim Sherwani from Badaun said what is good for the country is good for all communities. Afzal Ansari from Ghazipur and Atiq Ahmed from Phoolpur are presently in jail but Sayeeda said they would also go by the party's stand.
The SP claims that all its 39 MPs who fought previous general elections on its symbol will support the trust vote of UPA government.
Two days ago, Jai Prakash Rawat from Mohanlalganj said he would vote against the deal on the floor of Parliament and also claimed support of 12 other party MPs.
The party leadership is now trying to pacify some MPs like Salim Sherwani from Badayun who was earlier unhappy with the party's stand.