Union minister and Congress leader Beni Prasad Verma again launched a broadside against Mulayam accusing him of tacit understanding with the BJP and challenged him for a debate on Babri mosque demolition.

Speaking to mediapersons here, Verma alleged that Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) were trying to incite communal passion to gain political mileage in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He also alleged that the SP and the BJP had colluded in the demolition of the Babri mosque at Ayodhya. “I am ready for a public debate on Babri mosque’s demolition with Mulayam,” he added.

Verma sought a CBI inquiry into the firing on the karsevaks at Ayodhya in 1990 when Yadav was UP’s chief minister.

He also claimed the SP chief had opposed Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s appointment as Prime Minister in 1999 on BJP’s directive.

The Union minister denied reports that he had been reprimanded by the Congress leadership for launching attacks on Mulayam as the UPA regime depended for its survival on the support of his party.

Verma also sought to corner the SP regime for not recommending a CBI inquiry into the death of the serial bomb blasts accused Khalid Mujahid in police custody while being transported to Lucknow jail from Faizabad after a court appearance recently.

“Mulayam should stop portraying himself as messiah of Muslims,” he said.
Verma also cited Mulayam’s praise for Advani and former’s joining hands with Kalyan Singh in past to prove the point that he had a tacit understanding with the saffron party.