Gonda (Uttar Pradesh):
After a series of verbal attacks at Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma on Sunday called Mr Yadav an old friend. Mr Verma also said that he hoped that the SP chief would become Prime Minister one day.
"Mulayam is an old friend. I wish that he becomes Prime Minister, I will welcome him with garlands," Mr Verma said.
The minister also claimed that Congress will win at least 50 out of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh in the next general elections, and Rahul Gandhi will become the next Prime Minister.
Mr Yadav has been continuously facing Mr Verma's ire. On July 2, the minister had said that the SP chief was not even fit to sweep the Prime Minister's residence, reportedly drawing reprimand from his own party for making such remarks.
A day later, Mr Verma had threatened to quit Congress if stopped from "fighting" against the Samajwadi Party chief.
The Union Steel Minister also attacked the BJP and said the party, after being left with no option, has called a person like Amit Shah from Gujarat for Uttar Pradesh, an accused in the Ishrat Jahan case.
Mr Verma said that Mr Shah went to Ayodhya and paid obeisance, "praying the god to save him."