Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh:
Even though he was reprimanded by his party last week for remarks on crucial ally Mulayam Singh Yadav, Congress Minister Beni Prasad Verma today continued to target the Samajwadi Party chief.
"How can a leader, whose party never sticks to the truth, can never lie?" Mr Verma said today, without naming anybody.
Just two days ago, Mr Yadav, referring to Advani's comments on law and order in Uttar Pradesh, had sought an improvement in governance saying Mr Advani is a person who "never lies."
"Advani sahab says UP is in very bad state and corruption is rampant.... Now I have to assess the situation when a senior leader like Advani says such a thing. He never lies. He always speaks the truth, as I have said many times.... I'll go and meet him again," Mr Yadav had said in Lucknow on March 23.
Mr Verma today said Mr Yadav's statement points towards the political equations which may emerge in the time to come. Admitting that scams did take place during the UPA rule, he said those who were involved, have been sent behind the bars.
Mr Verma had targeted Mr Yadav yesterday too. "Those who are serving the interest of their family cannot be termed as socialists," he said in Lucknow. The Union minister was addressing a party's 'dharna' against the Uttar Pradesh government's "failures" and "dismal" law and order situation in the state.
Last week, Mr Verma had alleged that the Samajwadi Party chief has "terrorist links" - a remark that drew a lot of criticism.