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Congress demands Amar Singh's arrest

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Congress on Saturday demanded the arrest of Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh under the Prevention of Corruption Act for ``demanding a cut in a business transaction.''

Quoting the SP leader's interview to NDTV on phone tapping CDs available with the channel, Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Salman Khurshid said that since Mr. Singh enjoyed the status of a Cabinet Minister, a case be registered against him for demanding monetary benefits in a business transaction. He claimed that since one of Mr. Singh's reported conversations with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav pertained to a High Court judge, the Union Home Ministry commenced a discussion on imposition of Article 356 in the State.

``As a Chief Minister, Mr. Yadav should not have even listened to Mr. Singh on influencing a judge of the High Court...such happenings are bad for our system and under this light, a discussion on whether Article 356 be imposed on U.P. should begin,'' he observed.

``There is nothing objectionable in my telephonic talks with party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, film personalities and industrialists,'' Mr. Amar Singh had told NDTV.

The channel is in possession of a CD titled `Amar Singh Ki Amar Kahani', containing his tapped conversations, including with Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) chief Anil Ambani and some film personalities.

About the allegations that he discussed with his party chief about influencing some High Court judges on the setting up of a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Noida, Mr. Singh flatly denied they tried to influence any judge.

He, however, said it was quite normal to discuss with the party chief the ``attitude'' of a judge in a case.

Asked by NDTV about the allegation that a Mumbai-based industrialist, who wanted to set up shop in Uttar Pradesh, being advised by Mr. Anil Ambani to set apart Rs. 25 crore to Mr. Singh, the SP leader said it had been misinterpreted. — UNI

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