Dismissing suggestions that a joint candidate will be fielded against Modi from Varanasi, he said a strong candidate will be fielded by Congress from there and it would be decided soon.
Later addressing an election meeting in Itiyathok township of Gonda from where he is seeking re-election, Verma described Modi and Mulayam Singh as the biggest “enemies of secularism”.
Facing competition from Akbar Ahmed Dumpy (BSP) and Masoor Khan (Peace Party) at a time when BJP is confident of getting support of Hindus in the constituency, Verma, ostensibly addressing the sizeable Muslim population, said, “Country is like a temple of democracy and we all have to protect and guard it”.
“It is the duty of all Hindus and Muslims to guard the country and temple of democracy from dogs (who are out to soil it)”, Verma said.
The union minister noted that in these elections everyone is out to become the prime minister.
