Amar Singh slams ‘dictator’ Cong

Describing the Manmohan Government as a ‘‘functional chaos’’, he added that it would become non-functional sooner than later. ‘‘The need of the hour is the revival of a non-divisive, non-Congress, non-BJP third front based on strong ideological moorings. The experience of the coalition partners and supporters will force such a formation sooner or later,’’ he said.

Admitting that, although, numbers in the Lok Sabha do not seem to support the possibility of a third front, Singh said: ‘‘The possibility of the impossibility has to be explored in the interest of the working class, peasantry and the middle class.’’

Joining the Opposition chorus for the removal of ‘‘tainted’’ ministers, Singh cautioned the Government that it would ‘‘come under cloud’’ if no action was taken in the matter after former MP chief minister Uma Bharati’s resignation.

He added that Left parties had always held that ‘‘tainted’’ ministers should not remain in the ministry. ‘‘We have been traditionally supporting the Left line.’’ However, he said it was for the Left parties to take up the issue with the Government as the SP is supporting it from outside.

On Union Minister Taslimuddin, Singh said: ‘‘Just because the case against him has been withdrawn by the Bihar government, it does not mean he has been given a clean chit.’’

Admitting that it is the prerogative of the PM to decide on whether or not to retain such persons in his ministry, the SP leader said: ‘‘It is for Manmohan Singh to see whether he survives the so-called tainted ministers issue.’’

The SP leader — who met Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat today — said these issues figured in their discussions, but refused to elaborate. Singh gave a cheque of Rs 41 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund in connection with the recent fire at the Kumbakonam school. He was accompanied by party MP Jayaprada. The SP leader claimed that his life and that of party MP and UP CM Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh Yadav were in danger.

Denying claims that BSP leader Mayawati’s life is in danger, Singh said: ‘Interception of telephone calls of some BSP leaders indicate the lives of Akhilesh and myself are in danger.’’ The SP government in UP didn’t want to make an issue out of it without a full investigation. Nor did it want to influence such an investigation, he added.