Congress red-faced as its leader calls Mulayam ‘BJP agent’

Congress spokesman Rashid Alvi has embarrassed his party with his controversial remarks against the Uttar Pradesh strongman Mulayam Singh, but it forced him to withdraw his statement.

At an election meeting at Moradabad on Wednesday night, Mr. Alvi described Mr. Singh as a “BJP agent.”

We don’t approve of this: Congress

However, when the Congress took a serious view of his misdemeanour, Mr. Alvi said on Thursday: “My party has asked me to withdraw the statement given in Moradabad. So I withdraw my statement.”

“We don’t approve of this,” Congress general secretary and media chairperson Janardan Dwivedi said, adding, “The Congress has always been in favour of uniting all secular forces.”

In the party, which is carefully totting up its list of supporters for next month’s crucial presidential elections, Mr. Alvi’s undiplomatic remarks about a key backer have angered the leadership.

“Baseless”

When asked about Mr. Alvi’s statement, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said it was baseless and not worth a comment.