New Delhi, July 08: Samajwadi Party, whose 39 MPs will have a crucial role in determining survival of the government, today said it would vote for the government on the Indo-US nuclear deal to "save" it.
The SP announced the decision after its Parliamentary Party meeting held here to discuss its stand over the nuclear deal amid reports that some of its Muslim MPs were opposed to the atomic agreement.
"We will issue a three-line whip asking all MPs who have been elected on the Samajwadi Party symbol to vote in support of the nuclear deal and to save the UPA government," SP General Secretary Amar Singh told reporters after the meeting.
SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav rubbished reports that Muslim MPs of the party were opposed to the nuclear deal. He later paraded them before a media contingent to prove that they were with the party on the issue.
"The nuclear deal has been welcomed by Muslims across the state including in Deoband, Saharanpur, Varanasi, Kanpur and Bareilly," Yadav said.
At least 10 MPs did not attend the meeting. Among them two stayed away for "personal reasons", three are suspended MPs, two are abroad, one in jail while another is in hospital.
Yadav termed as "figment of imagination" suggestions that the SP was in the race for the post of the Lok Sabha Speaker in case incumbent Somnath Chatterjee resigns.
He also expressed hope that the Left parties will not side with the "communal forces" in Parliament when the issue of the nuclear deal comes up for discussion.
"The Indo-US nuclear deal has the backing of scientists, intellectuals and experts," Yadav said, pointing out that the party leadership had consulted former President APJ Abdul Kalam in this regard.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, July 08, 2008, 00:00