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Dalwai was sacked, claims SP leader

The ongoing feud in the Samajwadi Party's Maharashtra unit took a new turn Saturday, with Abu Asim Azmi saying that Hussain Dalwai, who joined the Congress Friday night, did not quit but was expelled for six years for ''anti-party'' activities.

Addressing a press conference in Bombay, Azmi said the Maharashtra unit of SP had not spilt as reported in the media. Party national general secretary Amar Singh had secured Dalwai's resignation as the state unit chief.

Azmi described Dalwai as a ''spy'' of the Congress. His joining that party would not affect the SP's electoral prospects, he added.

He charged the Congress with trying to wipe out the Samajwadi Party through its money power. However, he said, the SP was a party of principles and would not fall prey to the machinations of the Congress.

He also alleged that senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad made him an attractive offer to switch loyalties.

Azmi charged that Dalwai had not worked for strengthening the party in the state and had close contacts with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Gopinath Munde.

Referring to Amar Singh's controversial visit to BJP leader and lawyer Arun Jaitley, Azmi said Jaitley was Singh's lawyer for over a decade.

UNI

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