Congress warns Beni Prasad for ridiculing Mulayam

Miffed over union minister Beni Prasad Verma's derogatory remark against Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Congress Wednesday warned him saying this was not the party's culture.

"The Congress leadership has taken his statement very seriously. He has been told that this is not the Congress culture," Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh Madhusudan Mistry told reporters.

Beni Prasad had said Tuesday that the SP chief was not even fit for the job of a sweeper in the prime minister's office, let alone occupying the high office.

Mistry said that he met Beni Prasad, who "has regretted his remark".

A week ago, Beni Prasad had embarrassed the Congress, saying its leaders had worked as the B team of the SP in Uttar Pradesh during the 2012 assembly polls.

The Congress had then downplayed the statement and termed it an internal affair of the party while saying the matter would be sorted out soon.

Beni Prasad, who left the SP to join the Congress in 2009, has embarrassed the party leadership many times in the past due to his controversial remarks.

Mistry, who delivered Karnataka to the Congress, was given the charge of Uttar Pradesh by party vice president Rahul Gandhi in the latest reshuffle last month.