Sonia is a leader of stature, says Amar Singh

NOT EQUAL: Amar Singh says there's a lot of distance between him and Sonia Gandhi.

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Sonia sells N-deal, family name to rural masses

It is clear that the Congress party is thinking of a life beyond the deal.

• Sonia in poll mode, sells N-deal to rural Andhra
• Amar Singh, a man for all seasons

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• Sonia sells N-deal, family name to rural masses
• Sonia in poll mode, sells N-deal to rural Andhra
• Amar Singh, a man for all seasons

Keywords: Mulayam Singh Yadav, Congress

New Delhi: As the stalemate between the left and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government over the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal shows no sign of easing, the Samajwadi Party (SP), which holds the key to the survival of the Central Government, is keeping its options open, at least in its public posturing.

A day after SP chief and a key United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) member Mulayam Singh Yadav indicated a cozying up with the Congress, party leader Amar Singh in an exclusive interview with CNN-IBN said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was no friend of his.

"I cannot say Sonia Gandhi is my friend. She is the President of a national party. She is a leader of stature. So how can she be my friend? There is a lot of distance between us," Amar Singh said.

On the nuclear deal, Singh said, “The latest position about nuclear deal remains unchanged because we have not engaged in any formal consultations so far. Any matter of consequence, we were not part of UPA. We were kept out. Not a single government functionary, not a single member of the treasury bench or of the UPA has ever discussed with us any thing about it. It is going to be discussed in the UNPA meeting on July 3 then only the situation will be clear.”

He clarified that there was no rift in the relationship between the Left and the SP.

“Relation with the Samajwadi Party and Left particularly with CPI-M is very, very warm. My relation with Comrade Karat is very, very good. Whatever knowledge we have is because of the Left parties. We have been briefed by Comrade Prakash Karat,” he added.

Singh also met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the nuclear deal late on Monday night.

Earlier, Mulayam had said there were no permanent friends and foes in politics and added that his sour relations with Congress was a closed chapter now.

He also ruled out a possibility of any difference in the crucial UNPA meet on July 3, which will take a decision about supporting the UPA government at the Centre over the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal issue. He said all constituents of UNPA were united and whatever decision will be taken in the meeting on July 3 will be unanimous.

The Left parties, which support the UPA Government from outside, have warned against operationalising the deal. The Left leaders have warned that if the government took any step that could lead to the deal being operationalised then it risked losing their support.