New Delhi, Aug 10: Samajwadi Party today strongly supported the reported desire of president A P J Abdul Kalam to address MPs saying he had every right to do so and hailed his decision to visit Gujarat.
"Kalam has every right to talk to those who have elected him," Samajwadi party general secretary and spokesman Amar Singh told reporters here.
Kalam is reported to have expressed the desire to address MPs before independence day to emphasise the need for speedy and all round development of the nation.
The idea was, however, given up in view of the present stand-off between the government and the opposition on the petrol pump allotments.

Welcoming Kalam's decision to visit Gujarat, Singh said that the choice of riot-torn state as a destination of his first official visit outside the capital should not be viewed from a political angle. It should rather be seen from a human angle, he said.
Asserting that Kalam's visit will yield good result, Singh said the misgivings in the minds of left parties, which had opposed his candidature for the highest office, will now be removed.

Asked if Samajwadi Party has held any seat sharing talks with Congress for the Gujarat assembly elections, he said "if there is any offer from that party we will consider it".

He, however, said SP was in a position to take on Congress in Gujarat but in a bid to keep communal forces out, it favoured a tie up with that party. He ruled out any such arrangement with NCP.

Bureau Report