SP launches counter attack on Kalyan issue

Stung by sharp reaction from some of its Muslim leaders over the proximity to former Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kalyan Singh, the Samajwadi Party on Friday launched a counter-attack by terming the criticisers as "political weather cocks".

In an apparent reference to Salim Sherwani and rebel SP Member of Parliament Shafiq-ur-Rehman Barq, SP general secretary, Amar Singh said, "They have suddenly realised the virtue of opposing Kalyan Singh after being denied nominations for the Lok Sabha elections."

Singh also attacked SP's Muslim face and firebrand leader Mohammed Azam Khan who had recently issued a statement slamming the party leadership for its proximity to Kalyan.

Amar Singh recalled that when Mulayam Singh became the Chief Minister after the fall of the Bahujan Samaj Party-BJP government in 2004, Kalyan's son Rajveer, who had then recently joined SP, was appointed as a minister along with another close aide of Kalyan, Kusum Rai.

"Azam Khan of the SP was also appointed a cabinet minister along with Rajveer and Kusum Rai. Nobody then had objections ... you cannot be a political weather cock," Singh told media persons in New Delhi.

Azam Khan was sore when an alleged "outsider" like Jaya Prada was fielded by the party from his Rampur constituency in the last Lok Sabha polls. There is speculation that Khan could join the Mayawati-led BSP ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.