New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS) The Samajwadi Party Thursday said it will join hands with non-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opposition parties to hold a rally Dec 18 protesting rise in prices of essential commodities and issues concerning farmers.
Party leader Amar Singh said that besides the Left, representatives from the Indian National Lok Dal, the Rashtriya Lok Dal, the Telegu Desam Party, the Janata Dal-Secular and the AIADMK will be invited to the rally.

Giving indications of its growing differences with the Congress, Amar Singh said the party also could take a “big decision” Dec 18.

Asked if the Samajwadi Party could withdraw support to the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government, Amar Singh said: “Let there be (some) preparatory ground.”

About Samajwadi Party’s efforts towards larger opposition unity though it had left its allies in the erstwhile United National Progressive Alliance (UNPA) to support the Congress on the India-US nuclear deal, Amar Singh said they had supported the nuclear deal in the national interest after clarifying their doubts with former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

He said that party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav was not the prime mover behind the decision to support the Congress government on the nuclear deal and the second rung of the party leadership, which included Ram Gopal Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav and Shiv Pal Yadav, had first made the suggestion.