Salman Khurshid plays down Beni Prasad Verma's criticism of Mulayam

New Delhi -  Union Law and Justice Minister Salman Khurshid on Monday refused to comment on Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's criticism of Mulayam Singh Yadav,  saying the Samajwadi Party has been a trusted part of the ruling UPA Government.

Khurshid said the Samajwadi Party supported the ruling UPA alliance in the recently held presidential and vice presidential polls.

"We believe that today there is a system in which we have got the support of various other political outfits, including those from Uttar Pradesh. We received their support in the presidential  and vice presidential polls. We have thanked them," said Khurshid.

"Today on my behalf, I would send them sweets (on the occasion of Eid)," he added, while emphasizing that all was well as far as the UPA's relationship with Samajwadi Party was concerned.

Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Mohan Singh earlier in the day demanded Beni Prasad Verma's ouster from the Union Cabinet.

Singh said it is extremely unfortunate that Verma, who considered Mulayam Singh Yadav as his political guru once upon a time, is now showing his callous attitude.
 
"The man became a Cabinet Minister because of Mulayam Singh's grace in the Central Government in 1996-97 and then a state cabinet minister for around 10 years. These types of words

coming from the mouth of a person, who looked up to Mulayam as a leader for 30 long years, shows his flexible attitude and proves that he doesn't deserve to be a Cabinet Minister in the

government, which has the full support of our party," said Singh.
 
"If the Government of India does not remove him, then we will have to reconsider and rethink about our decision to support the government," he added.
 
Verma had earlier on Sunday criticized the Samajwadi Party chief, saying his dream of having a government at the Centre will never come true.
 
"Mulayam Singh has gone mad, and his dream of having a government at the Centre will never come true," he told mediapersons on the sidelines of a function in Barabanki, near Lucknow.