Maya dials Akhilesh as CBI probe looms large

Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, who is facing a possible CBI probe into his alleged role in a mining scam in Uttar Pradesh, received support from arch rival-turned-friend and BSP supremo Mayawati, who told him not to "worry" and accused the BJP of "misusing" the central investigative agency for "political purpose".

According to BSP sources here, Mayawati dialled Akhilesh on Sunday and extended support to the SP chief.

"There is no need to be worried over it (CBI probe)... this conspiracy must be fought and thwarted," Mayawati was quoted as having told Akhilesh by a BSP press release here on Monday.

The BSP supremo said it was an "electoral conspiracy" hatched by the BJP to malign and intimidate the SP-BSP ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls.

Mayawati said she, too, had faced a similar situation in 2003 when she had refused to give 60 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats to the BJP.

The BJP and the BSP had a coalition government in Uttar Pradesh in 2003.

"The then BJP government had misused the CBI to target me in the Taj Heritage Corridor matter," she said.

Akhilesh also slammed the saffron party over reports that he could be quizzed by the CBI in the mining scam.

The central investigative agency had raided the residences of an IAS officer and the then district magistrate of Hamirpur in Uttar Pradesh in connection with the scam.

"The people of the state will give a befitting reply to the BJP in the next Lok Sabha polls," he said.