New Delhi: Opposition on August 5 mounted a scathing attack on the Vajpayee government in the Rajya Sabha demanding resignation of the Prime Minister alleging the Centre was "misusing" Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to protect Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and others in the Babri masjid demolition case, even as the charges were strongly refuted by Law Minister Arun Jaitley.

Members belonging to Congress, Left parties and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), participating in a short duration discussion on government's responsibility vis-a-vis its investigative agencies in Ayodhya matters, accused the CBI of "withholding" evidence in possession of it from the court, which they said, was a criminal offence.

Rubbishing their charges that the investigating agency was being used for political purposes, Law Minister Arun Jaitley said the government "has not and will not" give any direction to CBI, under which section one has to be prosecuted.

He said it would be wrong to suggest that the CBI had "doctored" the videotapes in connection with the case.

"Since 1993 all tapes have been in the custody of courts and not with CBI (to suggest that the tapes were doctored)" he said.

PTI