BJP's Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi condemns Beni Prasad Verma's remarks

NEW DELHI: BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi today condemned Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma's remarks of being "happy" over rising food prices and accused the Centre of being hand-in-glove with the "inflation mafia".

"Only inflation mafia can be happy... the government is hand-in-glove with inflation mafia," Naqvi said here.

He observed that despite the controversy, the Congress has neither distanced itself from the remarks nor condemned them.

"Such a senior minister is saying that he is happy with rising prices," Naqvi said, adding that Verma had even tried to justify his remarks later.

Verma kicked up a controversy with remarks that he was "happy" over rising prices of food items as it will benefit farmers, evoking sharp criticism today from opposition parties and UPA supporter Samajwadi Party.