Beni Prasad says will continue to remain in Cong

New Delhi: Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma, who was ticked off by Congress after his comments against SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav created a controversy, on Tuesday said he will continue to remain in the party and is not resigning from the Cabinet. "Log jhooth bool rahe hein. Hum jeevan bhar Congress mein rehenge. Jo log bool rahe hein unko bolne do (People are lying. I will remain in Congress all my life. Let people say what they want to say," Verma said.

The Minister was asked if he was considering quitting the Cabinet or the Congress party in view of the party disapproving his comments against Mulayam. Verma had not attended the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) meeting Tuesday morning leading to speculation that he might be contemplating quitting Congress and warming up to other parties like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) ahead of the next Lok Sabha elections.

"I am just leaving for the Cabinet meeting," he remarked, indicating his continuance in the Union Cabinet. Congress General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi had on Monday made the party's displeasure clear over Verma's remarks clear by saying it has "taken this issue very seriously".

Verma had also said he stood by his statement that Mulayam allegedly had "terrorist links". He had also ruled out stepping down following the SP leader's demand, saying, "Has he made me a Minister?".