During the meeting, party chief Mulayam Singh explained the reason for SP’s support to the Congress-led Government. He is learnt to have termed Mayawati’s aggression against his party as one of the crucial reasons for closing ranks with the Congress. He also told the MPs that the deal was in the national interest.

Apart from Mulayam, SP leaders Amar Singh and Ram Gopal Yadav, who were briefed by the National Security Advisor on the nuclear deal on July 2, informed the MPs about the reasons behind supporting the deal. They are learnt to have assured the MPs that the support to the Government was in the party’s interest as well.

Mohan Singh, the senior party MP in Lok Sabha, urged the MPs to “honour Mulayam’s commitment” of supporting the Government. Ramjilal Suman, another senior MP, urged the party to continue raising the issue of inflation in Parliament as it affected the common man.

Soon after the meeting, Mulayam and Amar visited the Imam of Delhi’s Jama Masjid to apprise him of his party’s decision. The Imam is learnt to have told the SP leaders that the deal could not be “for or against” the Muslims of the country.