Beni unapologetic about distributing gifts to scribes

SP and BJP had criticised the minister for making Congress activists and journalists members of the Council and distributing cash and gifts to them at its meeting.

More than 1,000 members were given cash, mobile and a trolley bag each at the 24th meeting of the Council held in Lucknow on Monday, and over Rs 1 crore were spent on it, sources had said.

Condemning the act, BJP chief spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak had demanded a high-level probe into the matter.

Samajwadi Party leader Om Prakash Singh had said it was unfortunate that a central minister was involved in such an act.

“If he (Verma) thinks he could win hearts of people by distributing money and gifts, he is wrong,” Singh had said.