Congress distances from Beni Prasad Verma’s fresh anti-SP Varun Gandhi tirade

Indicating the discomfiture in Congress over Verma’s remarks,party spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said “Congress has to say it very categorically that nobody should use any derogatory language against any individual or any community. We do not approve of anybody using objectionable language.”

He,however,chose not to answer a question as to why Congress is wary of attacking the SP chief.

Ahmed also downplayed the attack on UPA government by Samajwadi Party reminding that both the parties in UP had bitterly fought the assembly elections but SP never said that it wanted to withdraw support to the UPA government.

“If they have any misgivings,it is everyone’s responsibility to clear that.” he said.

Ahmed,who is also the incharge of Congress’ affairs in West Bengal,did not find any merit in West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s criticism of the UPA government saying she did not find fault as long as TMC was with the government.

“After parting ways,she as an opposition party like BJP can make any adverse comment. We do not find any merit in that,” Ahmed said.

Replying to questions about a newspaper report that 146 MPs have employed their relatives as personal assistants,Ahmed said there are Ethics Committees in both Houses of Parliament which will decide on these things. “They will decide whether it is ethical or unethical,” he said.

The Congress spokesperson said this is “not a matter of privilege” or any issue of the misuse of MPs’s discretionary power.

Ahmed also dismissed the Opposition criticism of the government for launching a publicity blitz on its initiatives at public expense.

He said the campaign is also to apprise the people of the various schemes of the government so that they can avail of their benefits.

To a question on whether Congress will also meet the same fate as BJP in 2004 Lok Sabha elections after NDA’s India Shining campaign,Ahmed said BJP did not lose due to any campaign but because of its “anti-people” work.