Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday received a stern warning from the Congress leadership for attacking his own party leaders and also Samajwadi party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav following which he expressed regret.
Verma, who in the past has repeatedly made such controversial statements thereby putting Congress in an embarrassing situation, also assured that he will desist from doing so in future.
Congress general secretary incharge of Uttar Pradesh Madhusudan Mistry called Verma to his residence on Wednesday morning and warned him that the party leadership has taken his conduct very seriously.
“Senior leaders are very disturbed by your conduct. It is totally against Congress culture. It will not be tolerated. You should not be making such comments. Action will be taken if you indulged in such behaviour in future,” Mistry told Verma. Following this dressing down, Verma apologised and assured that it will not happen future, Mistry told mediapersons.
Mistry, who had warned Verma in the past also, said that in the first instance when Verma had accused some Congress leaders of UP of acting as B team of SP, he had even given him benefit of doubt. But since Verma repeated it again, the Congress leadership has decided to deal with him sternly. It would initiate disciplinary action against the Kurmi leader, if he did not desist from making such controversial statement.
Significantly, the public warning has come on a day when the UPA Government has brought an ordinance on Food Security Bill that has been opposed by the Samajwadi Party. The Congress has tried to mollify the already annoyed SP leader by making Verma to regret.
Meanwhile, Mistry attacked Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and challenged him for a public debate on any issue either developmental or political any time.