Lucknow:
The Samajwadi Party fiercely guards its pro-Muslim identity. So an allergic reaction to even a remote and insignificant connection to Hindutva mascot Narendra Modi is quite understandable.
When Shahid Siddiqui, one of the most visible leaders of the party, on Television decided to interview Narendra Modi for his Urdu newspaper Naidunia, the journalism took the party leadership by surprise.
In the interview, the Gujarat Chief Minister told Mr Siddiqui that he should be hanged if he is found guilty of orchestrating the 2002 Gujarat riots. Remarks perceived to be tailor made for the Muslim readership.
So today, the Samajwadi Party decided to shoot the messenger.
The chief whip of the party, Ram Gopal Yadav, cracked the whip and gave sweeping orders that only he, party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and the state party spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary could make TV appearances for the party.
Mr Modi's interview to a Samajwadi Party leader would have given an ideal opportunity to the Congress to attack a political rival.
But for a party that was madly flirting with the Samajwadi Party for getting Pranab Mukherjee elected as the President, the Congress has decided to spare Shahid Siddiqui, and only target its assault on Narendra Modi.