New Delhi, March 10
The Samajwadi Party today tended to give a new twist to the raging videotape controversy in Uttar Pradesh by saying that the tapes had in fact been provided to his party by none other than “disgruntled” ministers and legislators belonging to the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP).
The SP chief, Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav while addressing a press conference here, also demanded the resignation of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati and said that a probe into the controversy by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be appropriate now. His party had never indulged in such practices nor intended to do so in future, Mr Yadav added.
“We do not get anything taped nor do we have any tape in our possession,” he said when asked if the Samajwadi Party was going to release another videotape as a follow up to the one showing the Chief Minister asking party MPs and legislators to give “cuts” from the constituency development fund to the party coffer.
Stating the tape was made during a BSP meeting and, hence, could have been shot only by some BSP leaders, Mr Yadav dared the Chief Minister to order a high-level probe or recommend a CBI inquiry into the controversy.
Mr Yadav said just as Defence Minister George Fernandes, Samata chief Jaya Jaitly and BJP President Bangaru Laxman had resigned in the wake of the Tehelka expose, Ms Mayawati should also resign.
He alleged the Uttar Pradesh Government was carrying out raids on premises of Samajwadi Party leaders after the tape episode. On the women’s bill, Mr Yadav said he was trying to elicit views of other opposition leaders to arrive at a consensus.
At the press conference, the Indian Ekta Party, led by former Union Minister Rashid Masood, joined the SP.
