Sonia Gandhi is a 'national leader': Beni Prasad

Allahabad, Aug 4 (UNI) Samajwadi Kranti Dal (SKD) chief Beni Prasad Verma today said UPA chairperson and Congress president Sonia Gandhi was a national leader.

Talking to reporters here, Mr Verma said, ''Ms Gandhi is a leader with a strong political heritage. She is indeed a national leader.'' Reproaching the ruling Mayawati-led Uttar Pradesh government, the disgruntled Samajwadi Party leader charged the former with being involved in politics of vendetta.

''The action taken against Mukhtar Ansari, Atiq Ahmad and slain Dadua justifies it.'' Talking about July 19 Presidential poll, the SKD president added four SP MPs, including him and Atiq Ahmad, had cast their vote in favour of UPA backed candidate Pratibha Patil against the decision of SP to be out of voting.

He maintained that in the forthcoming Vice-Presidential poll, they would again cast their vote in the favour of the UPA candidate.

Mr Verma further observed ''Chief Minister Mayawati is my younger sister.'' UNI