Mulayam hints at withdrawing support to UPA

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav Monday remained ambivalent about supporting the UPA government, and said his party would deliberate over the issue when "the time comes".

"The party will think over the issue at the appropriate time," Mulayam Singh told reporters here when asked whether he would continue to support the United Progressive Alliance government.

He also accused the UPA government of using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against him. "The government has entrapped me through the CBI," he said, adding, "I am not afraid of the CBI."

Mulayam's subtle hint came on the day his party demanded proportionate reservation for Muslims through a constitutional amendment in an apparent move to counter the push for quota in promotion for the SCs and the STs in governmen`t jobs.
Samajwadi Party's Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav raised the issue during Zero Hour.

"When a quota in promotion (for SCs/STs) can be given by amending the constitution, then why should Muslims not be given reservation in proportion to their population through a constitution amendment bill?" Yadav asked.

Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan and Rashtriya Janata Dal members supported him.

The SP's move is timed with the controversial quota bill (the Constitution's 117th Amendment Bill, 2012,) which was taken up in the house Friday under apparent pressure from BSP chief Mayawati and is listed for consideration and passage Monday.