Surjeet finds SP more equal, nudges Cong

Taken aback by the Congress’ attacks against the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Su...

Taken aback by the Congress’ attacks against the Mulayam Singh government in Uttar Pradesh, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet got into the damage control mode today to stall a clash within the secular forces.

Surjeet, who has gone out of his way to ensure the Samajwadi Party remains within the secular fold, seemed at a loss for words.

‘‘I am trying to understand the situation that is giving rise to this kind of a clash. Before I hold meetings, I must know the situation,’’ he said.

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The UP Congress, which was spurred into action by new ‘‘heartland mascot’’ Rahul Gandhi’s tirade against the deteriorating law and order situation in UP, is launching a state-wide satyagraha against the Samajwadi Party government from June 15.

Commenting on the controversy sparked off by the killing of a Congress functionary in Rae Bareli constituency, Surjeet said: ‘‘UP cannot be isolated. A similar situation prevails in many other states, many deaths are reported.’’

But Surjeet still tried to strike a balance by not attacking the Congress (or Rahul Gandhi) for picking on Mulayam Singh and not the BJP or the Narendra Modi government.

Nonetheless, he was quite critical of the threats being issued to the UP government by the Congress. ‘‘It is bad. I do not visualise anybody daring to threaten that government.’’

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The Congress, Surjeet felt, was creating an unprecedented crisis by launching an agitation against a government it supports in the name of creating political space. ‘‘The statements (issued by Rahul) are unfortunate. This kind of tension being created is harmful for the country,’’ he added.