Terrorised Congress quick to rap Beni Prasad Verma on 'terrorist link' remark on Mulayam

NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party, which lends outside support to the Congress-led UPA Government, disrupted both Houses of Parliament on Monday demanding steel minister Beni Prasad Verma's resignation for his alleged statement saying party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had "terrorist links".

A red-faced Congress, which is already dissuading sulking ally DMK from walking out of the alliance over UNHCR resolution against Sri Lanka, was quick to spin into damage control. While parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath expressed "regret" for the Verma's statement, the Congress reprimanded the motormouth minister in no uncertain terms. Congress general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said, "Samajwadi Party is supporting our government at the Centre. Beni Prasad Verma is a minister in this government. The party has always maintained that our leaders should act with restraint while giving public statements. Congress does not approve of his (Verma's) statement."

Verma, a known Yadav baiter, remained unrepentant. He dismissed all suggestions of his resignation. Speaking to reporters outside Parliament, Verma said he stood by his statement against the SP leader. " Yes", he said replying to a pointed question in this regard. He also ruled out stepping down following Yadav's demand in this regard, asking, "Has he made me the minister?"

The controversy gave yet another political opportunity to BJP to slam the UPA government. "The language that he (Verma) used is regrettable and condemnable. If the SP has any self-respect left, it should withdraw support to the Congress-led government," BJP's chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Earlier in the day, the Lok Sabha could not conduct much business as the issue dominated the proceedings. SP member Shailendra Kumar raised the matter during zero hour. SP MPs then trooped towards the Speaker's podium seeking an apology from Verma and his dismissal from the council of ministers over the issue. Verma contended that he had not made any such statement, and so there was no question of an apology. "Where is the proof that I have said such a thing? I did not link terrorism to any religion," he said. SP members, however, remained adamant as party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav rose to speak and attacked Verma.

Yadav said Verma's comments followed a Muslim convention he had addressed in Lucknow, where several Muslim religious leaders spoke about the contribution of the community in the service of the nation. The SP chief said he would continue to fight for the cause of minorities. "How can we forget their contributions in national development as also in securing our borders? How can he say that Muslims are terrorists? He should apologise," he said.