Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) state unit spokesman BJP Vijay Bahadur Pathak said the charge by state Public Works Department minister Shivpal Singh Yadav that Verma was a drug addict and active in smuggling of drugs was a very serious charge that needed investigation.
"Shivpal is a senior minister in the state government... the charges he has made should be investigated by competent authorities" he added.
Terming as "shameful" the verbal duel between the leaders of the SP and Congress, the BJP said that "political discourse had touched rock bottom in the state".
"We find this amusing that while both support each other when either is in trouble but still call each other supporters of terrorists and drug smugglers," Pathak said.
Shivpal Singh at a meeting in Varanasi Sunday had said that Verma was a habitual drug addict who was actively involved in smuggling of drugs. His comments followed a continuous string of barbs by Verma against his party and its leadership.
--Indo-Asian News Service
