Friday, April 1 2005 15:01 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) today (April 1, 2005) had a dig at Rahul Gandhi claiming that the young Congress MP was "misled" by his partymen when he targeted Uttar Pradesh Government in his maiden speech in the Lok Sabha on the issue of arrears to cane growers.

SP General Secretary Amar Singh also attacked the Congress-led coalition at the Centre for providing "step-motherly treatment" to Uttar Pradesh, cautioning it that the country would not be able to move ahead if its largest State remained backward.

"He is a kid...a young man. We do not want to expose him. He has read out something prepared by others. He is being misled", party general secretary Amar Singh told reporters when asked his reaction over Gandhi's attack on the Mulayam Singh Yadav Government on the issue.

Detailing how the SP Government had helped the cane growers, he warned the Congress that if pushed to the wall, the Samajwadi party would be forced to expose it.

Asked to comment on BSP (Bahujan Samajwadi Party) supremo Mayawati's demand for imposition of President's Rule in UP, he brushed it aside saying it was fortunate that Central rule is not enforced on mere demands.

Briefing about the deliberations of the national executive meeting presided over by party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Singh announced that the National convention of the party would be held in Patna from April 21 to 23 as Bihar has turned out to be a "fertile" territory for the party.

He ruled out any support to the Janata Dal-United (JDU) to form the next Government in Bihar till it breaks ties with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party).