UP elections 2012: Beni Prasad Verma committed a mistake, says Priyanka Gandhi

LUCKNOW: Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi defended Union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma's comment on the Election Commission, saying that such mistakes happen during electioneering and the party had full respect for the constitutional body.

Speaking to the media in Rae Bareli on the last day of her election tour, Priyanka Gandhi denied all talk of the party prodding its leaders to speak on providing job reservations for Muslims. Gandhi said that it was a mistake by Beni Prasad Verma. Such things happen during election time and Congress had full respect for EC, she added.

Meanwhile, Union law minister Salman Khurshid in Farukhabad on Friday defended his Cabinet colleague Beni Prasad Verma for his minority sub-quota remarks, saying he had made the comments as a Congress leader and not as a minister.

"Whatever Beni said was in his capacity as Congress leader and not as a minister. He made his comments on party manifesto, which mentions the reservation issue," he told reporters here.

Elections are fought on the basis of party manifesto and if it is not talked about what else one would say, Khurshid asked. "Reservation for Muslims will be increased and if the EC wants, it can now issue a notice to me," Verma recently said at a rally in Kaimganj, triggering a controversy.

In Rae Bareli, Priyanka Gandhi also said funds sent by the Centre to Uttar Pradesh were not reaching those it was intended for, she charged.

"Money meant for the health scheme ( NRHM) is not reaching the people. Money is in the hands of a few people in the state," she said.