Congress distances itself from Beni Prasad Verma-SP fight

NEW DELHI: Congress employed a hands-off approach as the war of words between Samajwadi Party and steel minister Beni Prasad Verma reached a new low. However, its alliance partner, Union civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, joined the Mulayam-bashing game on Monday.

Congress, which has been obviously embarrassed by Verma’s tirade against his friend-turnedfoe Mulayam Singh Yadav, said that the matter was between two individuals.

“It is their personal opinions. We don’t want to get into this,” said spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury when asked about SP leader and Yadav’s brother Shivpal calling Verma a “drug addict” and “opium smuggler.”

Congress had disowned Verma’s remarks at a rally in UP as SP had demanded his resignation in Parliament. Sonia Gandhi had been forced to apologise to Yadav for Verma’s statement. The party on Monday chose to term the attack by Verma and counter-attack by SP as unfortunate.