By IANS,
New Delhi : Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh Tuesday met United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and assured her of his party’s support for the government on the India-US civil nuclear deal.
The Samajwadi Party leader said his party would give to President Pratibha Patil Wednesday a fresh letter of support to the government.
“Though we have never withdrawn the support from the government, tomorrow we will give to the president another letter of support,” Singh told reporters after a 20-minute meeting with the Congress chief at her 10, Janpath residence soon after his party’s parliamentary board formally declared support for the ruling Congress party.
“Prime minister Manmohan Singh will get the trust vote and there is no problem for the secular government,” he added.
This was Singh’s second meeting with Gandhi. The Samajwadi Party leader with party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had met Gandhi July 4.
Singh said during the meeting he appraised the UPA chairperson of the current political situation and the stand of the Muslims. He also said it was “wrong and biased” to say that Muslims were against the India-US nuclear deal.
“Our party leaders are in touch with Muslim seminaries of Saharanpur, Bareily and Benares. And all of them have endorsed the nuclear deal. It is not a Hindu or a Muslim deal. But a deal of national importance,” he said.
Denying division in party ranks, Amar Singh said: “All our MPs are with us. Thirty-eight of 39 Samajwadi Party MPs will support the government and the nuclear deal.”
The Samajwadi Party’s support becomes crucial as the Manmohan Singh government was reduced to a minority following the Left’s parting of ways earlier Tuesday. But Singh once again reiterated his party has not made any demand for its support.
“We don’t want any posts of speakers and ministers. The congress won’t have any problems with us,” he added.
About the communist parties withdrawing support to the government, Singh said: “I respect the Left party leaders and would not say anything against them.”