Mulayam blasts Left after fresh affidavit

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav today pleaded not guilty and said he was not aware of the contents of the affidavit filed by the state government's counsel, pertaining to the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani in the conspiracy leading to demolition of the Babri Masjid.

But Yadav was harsh on the Left parties for criticising him without verifying the facts.

"They should not behave as the custodians of secularism" Yadav said, adding that the Communist Party of India, Marxist (CPM) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) could have easily verified the facts before goining against him in public.

In a move calculated to dispell the growing impression of tacit understanding between Yadav and top leadership in the government, Yadav has already directed to file a revised affidavit in the court to press for the prosecution of Advani and all others in the demolition case.

"They have raised doubts about my secular credentials" he told newspersons. Obviously, Yadav looked quite perturbed over the Left parties's view that Yadav's Samajwadi Party was hand in glove with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"They should know that our party has been consistent in fighting the communal forces in UP in the recent past" he said in order to emphasise his secular credentials.

Displaying his aggressive stance, Yadav also pointed out that similar doubts on secularism of theLeft parties could be raised when CPI leader and the then Home Minister Indrajit Gupta failed to impose the President's rule in UP.

"There are many instances like this" he said, adding that in sharp contrast to the Left parties, the Congress exercised restraint.

He, however, made it clear that in the supplementary affidavit filed by state government, no laxity would be shown to those accused in the demolition of the babri mosque.

"We will press for prosecution of all those involved in the case" he said.