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Union Minister Beni Prasad Verma today demanded an "apology" from SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav over his remarks that those living in relief camps in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar are conspirators and compared him to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
The Congress leader, who frequently targets friend-turned foe Yadav with acerbic barbs, dubbed the Samajwadi Party chief a "goonda" while alleging that "goondaism has increased whenever Samajwadi Party government is formed in Uttar Pradesh.
"Yadav should be ashamed of his remarks. The government, which Samajwadi Party is running in Uttar Pradesh, was made with the support of Muslims. He should seek apology from the Muslims living in the camps," he told reporters here.
Alleging that the SP chief is now moving closer to BJP, Verma alleged that Yadav had initially decided to polarise votes by engaging into an agreement with the BJP.
"There is no difference between Narendra Modi and Mulayam Singh Yadav. One is Hitler while the other Mussolini," he said accusing the SP chief of "conspiring" in the demolition of Babari mosque and fielding candidates in seats with sizeable population of Muslims in Gujarat elections to facilitate Modi's victory in 2002.
After Rahul Gandhi's sudden visit to the relief camps, Yadav had on Monday claimed, "there are no riot victims at all in the camps. There is not even one. You can check. These are people who are conspirators. BJP and Congress have conspired. They have asked people to stay there at night and sit in dharnas. This is conspiracy of the people there."
Slamming the SP chief over the remarks, Verma said that Yadav was "undermining" the strength of the Muslims, whose 18 to per cent votes will decide which party will form government in Uttar Pradesh.
"While children are dying daily in these relief camps, Yadav is organising Saifai Mahotsava and programmes by dancers from foreign countries. He should immediately postpone Saifai Mahotsava. He is making fun while children are dying. The curse of these children will finish him," he said.
He also said that the SP chief "will have to go to jail one day" since the Lokpal bill has been passed and he is "embroiled in many corruption issues".
The SP had opposed the Lokpal Bill in Parliament.
Verma also chose the occasion to express confidence that Rahul Gandhi will become Prime Minister of the country after 2014 Lok Sabha polls and indicated that his name could be declared as Congress' Prime Ministerial candidate in the January 17 AICC meeting here.
Verma was once a close confidant of the Samajwadi Party supremo but was gradually sidelined after Amar Singh came into the picture. The Kurmi leader quit the party in 2007 and joined the Congress before 2009 Lok Sabha elections.
