The Samajwadi Party on Tuesday asked President Pranab Mukherjee to dismiss Union steel minister Beni Prasad Verma for his controversial remarks against party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav. In a statement, SP spokesman Rajendra Chaudhary said Verma had demeaned himself by levelling allegation against Mulayam, a leader of stature.

Allowing such a person to continue in the Cabinet was an insult to the democratic system and, therefore, the President should immediately dismiss him from the Cabinet, he said.

Instead of being apologetic, Verma continued to stuck to his allegation, the spokesman said.

Talking to reporters outside Parliament House on Monday, the minister said he stood by his remarks, made in Gonda last Saturday, that Mulayam allegedly had terrorist links.