Former MP says being 'pressurised' to merge his party with SP

Kaumi Ekta Dal's president and former MP Afzal Ansari has claimed that Samajwadi Party was "pressurising" him to merge the group with the ruling party.

"SP is pressuring us to merge with it. They area also offering red beacon (ministerial status) for the same", Ansari told reporters last night.

Kaumi Ekta Dal is part of Ekta Manch formed by 10 smaller parties to contest Lok Sabha polls unitedly.

Ansari said the Manch would contest on all 80 seats and have declared its candidates on 36 seats.

Attacking SP leadership, Ansari said both Narendra Modi and Maulayam Singh Yadav were same and both of them failed to discharge their duties at the time of riots.

"Mulayam might have been claiming himself to be well-wisher of the Muslim community but they have lost trust on him. By discriminating in relief works, the SP government is spreading hatred among communities," Ansari alleged.

He also alleged that over Rs 300 crores were spent on organising Saifai Mahotsava.

"The government claim that Rs 10 crore was spend was ridiculous.. In this amount Salman Khan will even not shake his leg," he said.

Ansari is brother of jailed MLA Mukhtar Ansari, who is facing a number of criminal cases including that of murder and extortion. His brother Sigbatullaha Ansari is also a legislator.

A spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party was approached for a response on the same but could not be reached.