Will continue to remain in party, Cabinet: Beni

Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma, who was ticked off by the Congress after his comments against Samajwadi Party 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 told PTI.

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 meeting on Tuesday morning leading to speculation that he might be contemplating quiting Congress and warming up to other parties such as the 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?"