He also held Pandit Nehru responsible for the Kashmir Problem, saying ``the nation is paying the price for the sins committed by him. Had Nehru not promised plebiscite, the Kashmir issue would have been resolved long back''.

The Samajwadi party leader said his party was opposed to the BJP ``but in this hour of crisis our party supports the government action in Kargil to clear infiltrators from our territory''.

Singh said the BJP government wants to drag the Kargil issue to exploit it in the upcoming general elections. If the war escalates, elections may be postponed, he said. But war will ruin Pakistan's economy -- a fact Pakistan is also aware of, he observed.

Singh is currently touring the country to activate party workers and to forge alliances for the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls. Reiterating his party's stand, Singh said his party would not have seat adjustment with any alliance partner of the Congress or the BJP. Replying to a query, the SP leader hinted that his party might forge an alliance with Sharad Pawar's newly formed Nationalist Congress Party. He clarified that his party would never merge with other parties.

The SP general secretary sought to downplay the exodus from his party, saying all those who deserted the party were ``greedy and unscrupulous elements''. Denying that Muslims were returning to the Congress fold, he claimed his party had emerged stronger after opposing Sonia Gandhi's candidature for prime ministership on because of her`` foreign origin''.

``This time we expect to win a few seats in Gujarat. Over the last few years the party has consolidated its position in Gujarat'', he said.

Stressing the need to formulate a uniform prohibition policy for the nation, the Singh said the policy should be reviewed. He said the party's election Manifesto committee is meeting in New Delhi on June 27 and 28 and prohibition might be incorporated in the manifesto. However, the final decision to include prohibition in the election manifesto depends on the Gujarat state leadership, he said.