New Delhi: With the exit of DMK from UPA, BJP on Wednesday sought to drive a wedge between Congress and Samajwadi Party demanding immediate removal of Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma for his remarks against Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj batted for Mulayam, saying Verma has tarnished the image of the SP chief who is “a respected leader of the House. He should either prove his charges or apologise.”
SP members, who were in the Well in the morning, raised slogans from the aisle when Swaraj started to speak during Zero Hour. DMK, AIADMK and CPI members were also in the Well raising the issue of atrocities against Sri Lankan Tamils.
The controversy involving a supporting party has come at a time when the government is facing a political challenge in the wake of UPA constituent DMK pulling out of the alliance on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.
“Instead of tendering an apology, he (Verma) has repeated his allegations and added some more baseless charges.
This is a matter of privilege of the House and it should be sent to the Privileges Committee. The government should dismiss Verma immediately,” Swaraj said amid thumping of desks by members of the SP, BJP and other parties.
She said that after making such “disparaging remarks”, Verma has “no right to continue in office”.
Swaraj said BJP and SP may have political differences, but “this is a matter of privilege of the House.”
JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia also wanted to speak on the issue but were disallowed by Deputy Speaker Kariya Munda who immediately adjourned the House for half an hour.
During the adjournment, Congress President Sonia Gandhi spoke to the SP chief. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was later seen sitting with Mulayam, apparently discussing the matter.
After two adjournments during Question Hour, Lok Sabha was finally adjourned for the day.
Meanwhile, ticked off by the Congress leadership, Union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday regretted his remarks against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav who demanded his resignation during meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
“I have not given any interview saying he (Yadav) extends support (to the government) after taking Commission.
But, if anybody’s sentiments are hurt by such remarks, I express my regret,” Verma said after meeting the Prime Minister, who is learnt to have read him the riot act for angering the 21-member SP whose support is crucial for the government in the wake of DMK pullout.
But, Yadav did not appear to be satisfied with the regret expressed by Verma and said the SP Parliamentary Board will meet tomorrow morning to take a call on the issue.
“There is a difference between regret and apology,” SP leader Shailendra Kumar said after Yadav met the Prime Minister.
Between adjournments in the Lok Sabha, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde met Yadav separately and are understood to have conveyed to him that the Congress strongly disapproved of Verma’s remarks. (Agencies)
In the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj said Verma had tarnished the image of the SP chief who was “a respected leader of the House. He should either prove his charges or apologise.” Swaraj said after making such “disparaging remarks”,
In the Rajya Sabha too, similar scenes were witnessed when the House re-assembled at noon after the first adjournment for an hour.
Members from Samajwadi Party trooped into the Well shouting “dismiss Beni Prasad Verma”.
Naresh Agarwal (SP), who led the charge, waved a newspaper report carrying Verma’s comments against his party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Amid din, Renuka Chowdhary, who was in the Chair, adjourned the House till 2 PM. (PTI)
