New Delhi: The Congress on August 5 said Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's decision to cancel allotments of all petrol pumps, LPG and kerosene agencies made after January 2000 reflected an "admission of guilt" on the part of the government and demanded resignation of Petroleum Minister Ram Naik.

Welcoming the cancellation, Congress spokesman S Jaipal Reddy told reporters that it was a "glorious victory for the vibrancy" of Indian democracy as the decision reflected an "admission of guilt" on the part of the government, particularly Naik.

"We, therefore, demand the resignation of Naik because the chairmen of the dealers selection boards were directly appointed by the minister," he said, demanding that there must be an inquiry by a sitting supreme court judge, assisted by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to unearth the "grave irregularities" committed in the allotment.

Reddy also demanded that CBI should seize all the material and information pertaining to the allotment of these pumps immediately.

PTI