BJP, SP inching closer for tactical alliance: Beni

Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma alleged BJP and SP were inching closer to either forge a tactical or open alliance keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

Lucknow: Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Wednesday alleged BJP and SP were inching closer to either forge a tactical or open alliance keeping in mind the forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

"Both the parties would have either tactical or open alliance in the next elections," he told reporters here. Referring to SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav`s praise of BJP veteran LK Advani at a public rally earlier this year, Beni said: "First Mulayam said that Advaniji didn`t lie... Now he has told his party workers that BJP candidates win because they are disciplined and SP loses because they indulge in hooliganism." Beni also alleged that riots in Muzaffarnagar occurred due to connivance between the SP and the BJP. "Local people did not indulged into riots, people from outside (Gujarat) triggered it," he alleged. Alleging that more than 100 riots were triggered during the SP regime to strengthen BJP, Beni said that they were staged only to bring Muslim votes in favour of the SP and Hindu votes in the favour of BJP. The minister mentioned that the SP supremo had said that conspirators, including that of Congress and BJP, were residing in relief camps in Muzaffarnagar. "While children are dying in relief camps the government is busy with Sefai Mahotsava. Foreign girls are being called to perform," he alleged. Beni said that though his ministry has decided to extend help to riot victims, but it was called off due to certain hurdles. And now it would give Rs 10 crore in the Chief Minister`s Relief Fund. He accused the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) of indulging into dramatics and claimed that Congress would expose them. He also appeared supportive to resentment among party workers for extending support to AAP to form government in Delhi. On Congress` performance in the forthcoming LS polls Beni said he was confident that Congress would win 50 seats in UP and Rahul would become the next PM. "No one should dream of becoming the Prime Minister for next 40 to 50 years. Rahul will be the next PM and I am confident of it," he said.