Lucknow: Suspended Congress leader and former External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh today (Feb 6, 2007) alleged that he was removed from his post under US pressure and hinted at joining the Samajwadi party.

Speaking at a seminar on 'India's foreign policy and Iraq' organised by the Samajwadi Party-backed Ram Manohar Lohia trust in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav, Singh claimed he was thrown out under "US pressure" as he had opposed the invasion of Iraq.

"It was a conspiracy of US in which Congress and the media were also involved", he alleged.

Showering praise on the Samajwadi Party, Singh said "It was a secular party, which was a big thing".

"I was offered a Lok Sabha ticket by Mulayam Singh way back but I had declined the offer saying that I will have to leave him (Mulayam) if Sonia Gandhi enters politics," he said.

When the audience, comprising SP leaders including ministers said there was a vacancy in the upper house from the state, which could be offered to him, Singh looked expectantly at Yadav, who said he favoured the idea.

Launching a veiled attack on Congress President Sonia Gandhi, he said, "Only those who are born in the country could understand religion, knowledge, prayer, charity, which are the hallmark of our culture." Singh also rubbished the Volcker Committee and Pathak Committee reports and claimed that neither he nor his son received any kickbacks in the Iraqi oil pay-offs.

The former External Affairs Minister said he expected the Congress leadership to expel him by this evening because of sharing a platform with SP, but made it clear that he would not resign to enable the Congress to be richer by a Rajya Sabha seat.