07-24-2008, 10:42 PM
<b>SP not interested in joining the government: Amar Singh</b>
July 24, 2008 17:37 IST
In the aftermath of the United Progressive Alliance government winning the trust vote, the Samajwadi Party -- which played an important role in taking the Congress-led coalition past the victory mark � on Thursday chose to be diplomatic about joining the government.
Party general secretary Amar Singh [Images] said, "I am not the right person to answer the question whether the party would participate in the government. It is not possible to answer this question now but we are not interested in joining the government."
On being asked about reports claiming that the Samajwadi Party had demanded nine cabinet posts during Wednesday's meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images], Singh said, "We had an informal meeting where we exchanged greetings with each other. We have not discussed anything with her regarding any demand from our side."
Asked to comment about Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Rewati Raman Singh's reported claim that he had asked Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ashok Argal to meet Amar Singh, the party general secretary said people are free to meet anyone they like.
"People are free to meet, but it is the context in which they do that is important. I don't remember meeting anybody. My house has been open to all, especially in the past one month when it has been under total media scrutiny. So I have nothing to hide," Singh said.
July 24, 2008 17:37 IST
In the aftermath of the United Progressive Alliance government winning the trust vote, the Samajwadi Party -- which played an important role in taking the Congress-led coalition past the victory mark � on Thursday chose to be diplomatic about joining the government.
Party general secretary Amar Singh [Images] said, "I am not the right person to answer the question whether the party would participate in the government. It is not possible to answer this question now but we are not interested in joining the government."
On being asked about reports claiming that the Samajwadi Party had demanded nine cabinet posts during Wednesday's meeting with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi [Images], Singh said, "We had an informal meeting where we exchanged greetings with each other. We have not discussed anything with her regarding any demand from our side."
Asked to comment about Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament Rewati Raman Singh's reported claim that he had asked Bharatiya Janata Party MP Ashok Argal to meet Amar Singh, the party general secretary said people are free to meet anyone they like.
"People are free to meet, but it is the context in which they do that is important. I don't remember meeting anybody. My house has been open to all, especially in the past one month when it has been under total media scrutiny. So I have nothing to hide," Singh said.