Beni meets PM, expresses regret for remark against Mulayam

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New Delhi, Mar 20: Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma, who is in the line of fire for his remarks against Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh here on Wednesday, and expressed regret for his comment.

“I regret if someone is hurt from what I said,” he said.

Verma earlier in the day said that the issue was over, and added that he did not want to get into any controversy.

“I will not put my leadership in danger and I will not like to make any comment now,” he said, when asked whether he would pacify sulking Mulayam or put his leadership in danger.

He also said that it was for the Prime Minister to take a final call on whether he should remain in the Union Cabinet.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today stood in support of the Samajwadi Party supremo, and lashed out at Beni Prasad Verma for his allegations against the veteran leader.

As the Samajwadi Party lawmakers created ruckus in both the Houses of Parliament on Verma’s latest allegation saying Mulayam accepted money for his party’s support to the UPA government, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, criticised Verma for making such statements.

“Mulayam Singh is a respectable member of the House. We might have a difference of opinion, but Beni Prasad’s statement that Mulayam Singh accepts commission for supporting government is condemnable,” said Swaraj.

” We demand that Beni Prasad be sacked from the Cabinet and the matter be handed over to the Committee of Privileges for the breach of privilege,” she added.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath earlier on Wednesday said the ongoing controversy surrounding Verma’s comments against Mulayam is closed.

“I had expressed regret over the matter the day before yesterday in the House. They (SP) have not raised the issue after that. I met them yesterday and they are satisfied and the matter is closed,” he said.

Expressing regret, Congress General Secretary Janardhan Dwivedi had earlier said that leaders should not use profane language.

“We have faced a similar situation in the past and the party had suggested that leaders should keep a control on their language and it is not necessary for everyone to speak on every issue. It will not be correct to say on this but I will say that the party has taken the matter seriously,” said Dwivedi.

The Union Steel Minister earlier on Monday hit back at Mulayam Singh Yadav after the latter demanded his sacking from the Union Cabinet.

“Who is Mulayam to ask for my removal? Has he made me the minister? He should apologise, for he has betrayed the nation,” he told media here.

Verma had earlier in a rally in his constituency of Gonda, around 200 kms from Lucknow, said that the Samajwadi Party chief has links with terrorists. He also alleged that Yadav was corrupt and a “dacoit”.

The Union Steel Minister’s remark came at a time when the Congress-led UPA Government is facing the political challenge in the wake of the DMK pull out over the over the issue of alleged human rights violations of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The DMK’s move has put the UPA in a position where it is now looking forward to the regional parties for support, especially Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party (SP) for support. (ANI)