We'll convince our Muslim voters of N-deal: Amar

THE LEFT(OVER): Relations with Left not damaged because of N-deal, but am sorry if Karat is hurt, says Amar Singh.

          

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Amar Singh: But he is also a journalist. If we were misled…We have changed since we went and got things clarified from Kalam. As leaders we need to lead and not to be led.

Karan Thapar: If leaders we need to lead, are you confident you can convince Muslims in UP – most of whom, in fact many of whom vote for you - that what you’ve done is right?

Amar Singh: Of course. We are convinced and we will work hard to make sure they are also convinced. And if they are not led in a proper direction, the responsibility lies on us and we should pay a price for that.

Karan Thapar: The price you will pay will be losing elections.

Amar Singh: The price I would have paid by not supporting this would have been that I would have lost a good cause for the nation. What is bigger – nation or election?

Karan Thapar: So the nation is more important than losing an election?

Amar Singh: Nation is more important that individual, party and politics – as Dr Kalam told us.

Karan Thapar: So what you are saying is that for the sake of doing the right thing for India, you are prepared to risk election defeat if it comes to that?

Amar Singh: Political career, alliances are guided by national causes.

Karan Thapar: Then you are also saying that there’s a real risk – I don’t know how big – that you may not succeed in convincing the Muslim voters and they may punish you by voting you and your party out.

Amar Singh: Very strong question and analysis. I have never said that. I am simply saying that vested interests and our opponents will try and make a case out of that. We will have to be prepared to face it and counter that onslaught and will hopefully do that.

Karan Thapar: Critics and some of your allies say – not in public though – that the real reason why the SP is getting closer to the Congress is not really because they want to combat communal forces or because of the nuclear deal but because you are scared of Mayawati. That you are scared of the cases she has filed against Mulayam Singh and he is scared of being arrested and going to jail.

Amar Singh: Very funny. There’s no case. One channel showed I was perturbed about Amitabh Bachchan’s cases…