SP tones down anti-Beni tirade

The Samajwadi Party (SP) on Thursday relented in its tirade against Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma, but sent out a message to the Congress that its lifeline to the government should not be taken for granted.

SP members neither raised their demand for the immediate sacking of Verma nor did they disrupt House proceedings on Wednesday both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha (RS). Chants of “shame shame” was heard in the RS when Verma appeared for a few minutes.

However, at their parliamentary party meeting, SP leaders vehemently criticised and condemned Verma for hurling allegations against party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Yadav suggested that the party should adopt a “wait and watch” policy on the issue as Congress president Sonia Gandhi had  intervened in the matter, disapproving Verma’s conduct.

SP MPs agreed with Yadav but many of them suggested that the party should not compromise on serious issues and should maintain its position. They also authorised Yadav to take a decision on continuing party’s support to the UPA whenever he realises its necessity in the interest of the party, sources said.

After the meeting, Yadav, apparently seeking to keep the Congress on tenterhooks, said that party MPs had authorised him to take “appropriate decisions at the appropriate time” over continuing support to the UPA. The SP chief indicated that his party had no plans to put the UPA in trouble, adding that they would not create hurdles in the passage of the Appropriation Bill as well as the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill.

“It is our duty to get the Appropriation Bill passed,” Yadav said.
With the SP softening its stand, Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said, “He is a sincere and seasoned politician. Unlike many other leaders, he does not come out with hasty statements.”

The SP, which has 23 MPs, is crucial for the UPA after the DMK’s exit from the coalition. Even as they play hardball with the UPA, Congress leaders are confident that Yadav did not have a situation now to withdraw his party’s support to the government.