Amar holding on to Rajya Sabha membership for political benefit: Mohan Singh

Newly appointed Samajwadi Party spokesperson Mohan Singh today fired another salvo at sulking Amar Singh who refused to resign from his Rajya Sabha seat, saying his main aim is "remain on some post" and not politics.

"He (Amar Singh) has been teaching everybody a lesson on morality but after his refusal to quit it has now become clear who is moral and who is not. I think it is his cleverness. His political aim is to remain on some post through some party and he has stuck to this motive of his. Politics is not his real motive," Mohan Singh said in New Delhi.

On Amar Singh's statement that seeking his resignation was Mohan Singh's personal comment and not the party's view, the spokesman said, "It pains me to say that when Amar Singh was party spokesman, whatever he said, he used to present it as the party's point of view.

"Now, when I am the spokesperson, whatever I say should be considered as the party's view."

Both Mohan Singh and Amar Singh are engaged in a war of words for sometime.

Shortly after his appointment as party spokesperson and general secretary, Mohan Singh had sought Amar Singh's resignation as the party's Rajya Sabha member on moral grounds.

However, Amar Singh had refused to do so, saying that he had resigned from key party posts due to poor health and will not leave the party. Mohan Singh said also said the biggest challenge before SP now was to ensure that its socialist face is rebuilt.

"This has become clear from the new appointments made by Mulayam Singh Yadav in the party. Only SP can bring sons of the soil to the front row. A new beginning is to be made now," he said.

Asked about UP government submitting a figure of Rs52 crore as the total expenditure incurred on building statues and memorials to the state exchequer, Mohan Singh said, "The actual cost must be around Rs 125 crore annually. The state government has submitted a much lesser amount. It is clear that these constructions were done to promote certain builders and contractors and not for any social cause.

He added that the BSP government in UP was not concerned about rising prices and if an agitation against it was not launched, then UP will soon become the poorest state of the country.