After a brief lull, Union minister Beni Prasad Verma on Saturday launched another tirade against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, saying those "serving family interests" cannot be termed as socialists.
Five days after he came under fire over his remark that Mulayam allegedly has "terrorist links", Beni today said, "Those who are serving the interests of their family cannot be termed as socialists."
The Union minister was addressing a Congress dharna against the Uttar Pradesh government's ‘failures’ and the ‘dismal’ law and order situation in the state.
"How can they think of society and the common man when they are concerned only about themselves and their family," Beni said without naming anyone.
"In reality, Jawaharlal Nehru and Indiraji were the real socialists who had followed socialism," he claimed.
When asked whether he would put in his papers over his remarks on the SP supremo, Beni replied, "Why should I resign".
Referring to SP workers burning his effigy, he said, "It would only prolong my life".
Asking the party workers to work hard, Beni said UP has always played an important role in national politics, but things are different today.
"The funds, meant for welfare schemes for the Dalits and minorities, are being spent on unemployment allowance and laptops," the Congress leader said.
On the law and order situation in the state, Beni said growing incidents of loot, murder, rape and bribe 'do not depict socialism'.
Referring to the murder of Deputy Superintendent of Police Zia-ul-Haque, he said that the National Security Act should have been invoked on the accused before transferring the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Though critical of Mulayam, Beni said UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav is a wise person and would improve things if given a free hand.
