Sanjay remarks hint Congress-Samajwadi patch-up

Lucknow, Jan 17 (IANS) The Congress and the Samajwadi Party may patch up after all if film star Sanjay Dutt's remarks on Congress leader Digvijay Singh are anything to go by.

'I am grateful to Digvijay Singh for issuing a statement that he does not consider me a terrorist,' Dutt told a press briefing here Saturday along with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and general secretary Amar Singh.

Samajwadi Party has announced Sanjay Dutt as its candidate for the Lok Sabha constituency of Lucknow. The star, however, is out on bail after conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings on the charge of possessing illegal fire arms.

'My father always wanted to hear that but sadly that never happened during his lifetime. But never mind, even if it has come after 17 long years,' he said, referring to late actor and Congress minister Sunil Dutt.

'After my father's death I always thought that I would have a whole lot of people to support me, but unfortunately I always found myself alone. But Amar Singh stood behind me like an elder brother and offered me all the support I longed for,' he said.

Sanjay Dutt's sister Priya Dutt, a Congress MP, had reportedly commented adversely on his move to join the Samajwadi Party, but the star refrained from speaking on it. Amar Singh, however, said: 'Priya is like a younger sister to me, just as she is to Sanjay.

'I wish to tell Priya that if she so desired, I will not hesitate to go and campaign for her. The same goes for Sanjay, whom I would advise to campaign for his sister too.'

Kind words from Sanjay Dutt and Amar Singh for Congress leaders come as surprise. The two parties have been negotiating a poll alliance in Uttar Pradesh but have toughened their stances. Amar Singh and Digvijay Singh, in particular, have issued strong statements in this context.