By IANS,
New Delhi : Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Tuesday hit back at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani for calling him a “broker”, saying the BJP had courted him earlier to try pull down the Congress-led government.
Picking on Advani’s weekend remarks accusing the Congress-led government of “Pehle lal salaam tha, ab dalal-salaam hai” (First they saluted the Left, now the brokers), Singh said that BJP leader Jaswant Singh had approached the Samajwadi Party twice to try toppling the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).
“Jaswant Singh approached us twice, once at Delhi’s Maurya Hotel through AIADMK leader (j.) Jayalalithaa and as recently as July 2 this year,” Amar Singh said.
“Advani has proved his seniority in the case of ‘dalal salam’ as he is ahead of the Congress in trying to make a deal with us,” said Singh, who was at his sarcastic best.
“I have full sympathy with him (Advani) of not (having become) the prime minister. He must be obviously feeling dejected and disappointed,” Singh added mockingly, as reporters tried their best not to laugh.
Amar Singh, however, added that he “respected” Advani and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, especially after growing up listening to their speeches.
“Three months ago Advani had called me thrice to invite me for his book launch and even invited Sonia Gandhi.
“But when I didn’t go, he sent me a book wishing me the best. Everything is changed now. Now red, saffron and the elephant (the mascots of the Left, BJP and Bahujan Samaj Party) are ready to kill me,” he said.
Amar Singh also “congratulated” the BJP for its new friendship with the Left parties who have decided to vote against the UPA government in parliament July 21.
“I congratulate the BJP as their quarrel with the Left has finally ended. Red and saffron have become one,” said the Samajwadi Party leader.