Date:16/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/16/stories/2006021616680900.htm

National

Mulayam is still Raj Babbar's leader

Special Correspondent

MUMBAI: Suspended Samajwadi Party MP from Agra Raj Babbar levels serious political charges against the party chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav but the latter continues to be his leader "at least as of today."

Mr. Babbar alleged at a press conference on Wednesday that Mr. Yadav had entertained Israeli Ambassador David Daniel at the official residence of the Chief Minister in Lucknow. He had met RSS chief K. Sudarshan when a communal clash was on at Mahu near Varanasi, and advised the BJP to have an alliance with the SP.

He did not mantion Mr. Yadav's name but said `the UP Chief Minister' was weakening the secular forces in the country instead of fighting the communal forces.

Asked if he considered Mr. Yadav his leader, Mr. Babbar said that he respected the Chief Minister a lot because of his socialist past. "Yes he is my leader today but I do not know about tomorrow."