SP maintains pressure on Cong over Beni issue
New Delhi, Mar 20 : The Samajwadi Party(SP), whose outsidesupport to the UPA Government has become extremely crucial with another UPA ally DMK also withdrawing its support, is holding its parliamentary party meeting tomorrow to take any decision regarding Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma who has incurred the party's wrath for his alleged denigrating remarks against party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
The party today kept the Congress guessing about its intentions. Mr Yadav's meeting with another ally NCP Chief Sharad Pawar gave rise to various speculations, though both the leaders later told reporters that they discussed about a function relating to a freedom fighter to be held in Maharashtra and which both of them would be attending.
Mr Verma's reported remarks in which he accused Mr Yadav of
having links with terrorists and also allegedly saying that he was taking commission for supporting the Government have for the past two days rocked both the Houses of Parliament.
The Minister's expression of regret over his remarks, which came after a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today, failed to cut much ice with the SP, and it continued with its demand for his removal from the Cabinet.
The SP found an unexpected support from the Opposition BJP when Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj raised the issue in the House asking for the matter to be taken by the Privilege committee, and asking for resignation of Mr Verma.
The ruling UPA tried to placate SP chief with Congress president Sonia Gandhi going up to him with folded hands as soon as the House was adjourned over the issue at 1200 hrs. Later, Mr Yadav had a meeting with the Prime Minister too.
UPA ally DMK had earlier in the day quit the Government demanding a tough stand against Sri Lanka for what it calls war crimes against the people of Tamil origin in the island country.