I've been punished for opposing criminals: Amar

New Delhi: Reacting against his expulsion from the Samajwadi Party (SP) along with fellow worker Jaya Prada, former general secretary of SP, Amar Singh said that he would continue to respect Mulayam Singh Yadav.

Singh said, "I continue to respect Mulayam Singh Yadav even though his relatives call me a mad man."

He also said that he had been punished for being vocal about his opposition to the influence of criminal elements in the party.

"I have been punished for speaking against criminals," said Singh.

However, Amar Singh said that he would continue to fight his own battle.

Meanwhile, Jaya Prada said, "Nobody can influence me, I am not a child. I stood for Amar Singh because Mr Amar Singh brought me from Andhra Pradesh to SP. Amar Singh is going to float a non-political organization.

Jaya Prada and Amar Singh have been expelled from the primary membership of the Samajwadi Party.

Four SP MLAs seen as loyal to Amar Singh have also been expelled.

Bhojpuri actor-turned politician Manoj Tiwari has also resigned from Samajwadi Party

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Mohan Singh announced the decision to expel the two leaders on Tuesday in Lucknow.

"Some party members have been speaking against Samajwadi Party in the last few months, spewing poison against the party. No party can allow this. Hence we have decided to expel Jaya Prada," said Singh while announcing the decision to expel Jaya Prada.

"We believe that these people with capitalist interests infiltrated the party to destroy its socialist fabric. Amar Singh and Jaya Prada have expelled both because the party's image was suffering because of them. It took us time to understand these infiltrators and their conspiracy against the party," said Singh.

"We are taking legal opinion on seeking their expulsion from Parliament," he added.

He said that he was feeling suffocated in the Samajwadi Party and was against the party's opposition to English and technological progress

"I was suffocated in supporting policies against English language and technology," said Amar Singh addressing a press conference.

He also said that Samajwadi Party was now trying to malign him and that he was never against the party.

"A party cannot run by casteism, groupism and dictatorship. We never went against the party while we were with them. But we did not keep quiet. We are being maligned. After today i will not comment on Samajwadi Party," he said.

Reacting to Amar Singh's expulsion, Samjwadi Party MP Jaya Bacchan told CNN-IBN: I will definately go to Azamgarh with Amar Singh if he invites me.

"Amar Singh's departure from the party will hurt SP," she added.

Amar Singh did not start this. Amar Singh's reaction is more out of hurt," said Jaya.