I will resign only when Modi resigns: Lalu

New Delhi, Oct 15 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today asserted that he would resign only when Narendra Modi quits as Gujarat Chief Minister.

''I will resign only when Narendra Modi resigns,'' Railway Minister Lalu Prasad said, countering the BJP demand for his resignation in the face of Gujarat High Court setting aside the U C Banerjee Commission report on the Godhra carnage.

''What right has the BJP got to demand my resignation when Modi himself had been found guilty by different panels, including the Banerjee Commission, and civil rights groups.... Let Modi resign first, then I will resign,'' Mr Prasad told newspersons at the Iftar party hosted by Steel Minister Ram Vilas Paswan at his residence here.

Mr Prasad was seen sitting next to former Prime Minister V P Singh who had UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on his right. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was next to Mrs Gandhi.

The BJP had earlier said that the alternate inquiry ordered into the burning and killing of passengers of a coach on Sabarmati Express at Godhra by the Railway Minister was ''unconstitutional''.

The Party had contended that the intention of Mr Prasad was to help and absolve the arson suspects by appointing the Justice Banerjee panel against the railway regulations .

UNI YJ RP HT1950