Jaya still with UNPA: Amar Singh

Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh denied that there were any differences between his party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazgham, led by former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalitha. He was addressing a press conference in the Parliament House on Friday.

"Unless we hear from herself I am not going to believe any story that has been put up quoting her. She is a part of our United National Progressive Alliance and will continue to remain one," he said.

He accused the National Democratic Alliance led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L K Advani of colluding with the United Progressive Alliance of shying running away from a debate on Justice Rajinder Sachar report. "With Gujarat elections round the corner they are not willing to discuss the report," he said.

He expressed regret for error in translation of a report of the Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare, which he chairs. The report stated that Defence Minister A K Anthony ceased to be member of the committee with effect from October 24, 2006 because of his demise.

"This may have been due to error on the part of the translator. We wish him a long life," he said.

He claimed that prime minister met him and asked his party to support the Indo-US nuclear deal. "Why should we support a government which has got Mulayam Singhji raided several times? You would recall how I was hounded on a so called controversial tape."

According to Amar Singh, there are cordial relations between the Left parties and the Samajwadi Party despite scathing attack launched by CPI leader A B Bardhan during the state assembly elections.

He dismissed Sonia Gandhi's claims in the Congress magazine on the Indo-US nuclear deal. "These are bunch of lies. She has been protecting 'uncle' Quottrochi from being prosecuted in the Bofors case by having Parliament adjourned sine die and will not discuss the Sachar panel report before the Gujarat elections. We appeal to all those who stand against the Indo-US nuclear deal to join hands with us," he declared.

Talking about developments in Uttar Pradesh he said that Chief Minister Mayawati was on demolishing spree and every day one big bunglow was being brought down to expand her official residence and also to build a memorial for Kanshi Ram, founder of the Bahujan Samaj Party.