DMK trying to blackmail govt: SP

Says the government is stable, DMK hasn't given anything in writing to the President

Samajwadi Party, which is supporting the Congress-led UPA from outside, today said DMK's decision to withdraw support was only to "blackmail" the government on the Sri Lankan issue, and asserted the present dispensation was stable.

"No one has pulled out, this is only to blackmail the Government. It is stable," senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters outside Parliament.

He maintained that neither DMK has withdrawn support not it intends to do so. "Has it (DMK) given anything in writing to the President," he sought to know.

His reaction came after DMK chief M Karunanidhi announced his decision to withdraw support from the government on the Sri Lanka Tamils issue. DMK has 18 members in the Lok Sabha and UPA currently has the support of 303 MPs in the 543-member House.

Government, though, has sought to mollify Karunanidhi, saying his "statement deserves all respect" and consultations have been started with political parties on DMK's demand that Parliament should adopt a resolution on human rights violations in Sri Lanka.

Asked if SP will support such a resolution, Yadav remained evasive, saying, "This is a hypothetical question. Let the government come forward (with it)," he said.