New Delhi: Samajwadi Party today (May 31, 2004) virtually came out in support of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener George Fernandes, facing the Tehelka issue and controversies relating to Defence purchases, assailing moves of a "media trial before investigations" into the expose and cautioned the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government against politics of vendetta.

The SP, whose 37 members in the Lok Sabha supported the UPA, also made an indirect attack on the Congress-led coalition for inclusion of "tainted" Ministers and for not taking supporting parties like it into confidence on key issues like Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

Addressing a press conference, SP general secretary Amar Singh alleged that soon after coming to power, some Ministers are indulging in statements "smacking of vindictive politics" and the way Fernandes was being subjected to a "media trial before investigations" did not augur well.

He said there were innumerable examples right from the days of Emergency to the recent actions of the Punjab Chief Minister against his political opponents that showed that vindictive moves prove counterproductive.

Singh's remarks came in the backdrop of Congress leader and Union Minister Kapil Sibal's statement that the inquiry into Tehelka expose during NDA rule should be proceeded with transparency and the Ayodhya demolition case, from which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani was "rescued" by CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation), should be "put back on the rails".