Sunday, December 26 2004 16:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) today (Dec 26, 2004) dared Congress to withdraw support to Mulayam Singh Government in Uttar Pradesh, saying its Government in the State was not dependent on them.

"We want to tell Congress leadership that our Government in Uttar Pradesh is not dependent on them. We are not surviving on their crutches. They can withdraw support whenever they may please," Samajwadi Party General Secretary and Spokesman Amar Singh told reporters in New Delhi.

He also alleged that the Common Minimum Programme of the ruling party at the Centre had failed both on political and Governance fronts.

On Assembly polls in Bihar, he said that the party would contest the State elections with "full strength".

Rubbishing speculation about SP and BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) coming closer, he said that the party had been accused of this even earlier and it was both unfounded and politically motivated.

"Earlier, we have been accused of hobnobbing with BSP (Bahujan Samaj Party), this time its BJP. People forget it was our party that defeated the communal BJP and we won 40 seats in Lok Sabha polls. Even in the recent by-elections people gave us overwhelming mandate while the Congress could not save its deposit," the SP leader added.

On the Left cold-shouldering SP proposal to form Third Front, Singh said, "They have not at least ruled it out. It will be formed when the right time comes."

He also charged Congress with targeting SP leaders and tapping their phones. "They have fallen to the extent of stalling the admission of our children and spying on us."

"Nothing could, however, be worse than reported statement of UP Congress President Salman Khursheed wishing the death of our leader Mulayam Singh Yadav," he added.