Lucknow, June 18 -- Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Sanatan Pandey on Thursday hit back at Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya over his claims that several SP MPs are in touch with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), calling the saffron party a "party of cruel people."

Speaking to the media, Pandey dismissed reports of any internal rift or potential defections, stating that the party's recent meetings were focused solely on upcoming events.

"I have had no discussion on this (with Akhilesh Yadav). We met only to discuss the strategy and program for the August 5 event," Pandey said, downplaying Maurya's assertions.

Launching a scathing attack on the ruling dispensation, the SP leader alleged that the BJP is indifferent to the ...