National

Amar Singh finds Mulayam Singh boring

He is a simple man associated with socialist revolution, says SP general secretary

New Delhi: They are party colleagues and known to share a very close relationship, but Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh finds Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh a "very boring man."

"Mulayam Singh is a simple man associated with the socialist revolution. He is called `son of the soil.' I used to tell him in private that though you are our leader, you are a very boring man. Today, I say publicly that he is a very dry person," he was quoted as saying in a release by BBC in his interview with the radio in `Ek Mulaqat' programme.

Quizzed on issues such as his friendship with business tycoons and celebrities, Mr. Singh said he had many high-profile friends.

"Normally, people in politics stay away from these things. People take money from industrialists for elections but are afraid of accepting it publicly," the SP general secretary said.

Mr. Singh also spoke about disappointments and remembered the phone-tapping controversy as the "most embarrassing time of his life," which, he felt, was an invasion on his privacy.

"Some times when you are speaking with your friends on the phone you say many things that you should not. If those things are used in the wrong place, it is very embarrassing not only for yourself, but also for those friends."

Another disappointing moment was when some of his friends and admirers, including political leaders, parliamentarians and industrialists, left him when he needed them.

"Success makes you a means to be used, and failure makes you a subject of derision."

Mr. Singh sprang a surprise when queried about his heroes as he named Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani, Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar, former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and actor Amitabh Bachchan. — PTI

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