Bali: Terming as "baseless" the allegations made by Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati that he was responsible for Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids against her, Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on October 8 said that he was "saddened" by these charges.

"Whatever our political differences may be, I am very saddened by these allegations," Vajpayee told reporters before emplaning for Bangkok on the second leg of his foreign tour.

"These allegations have been brought to my notice and these are baseless," he said.

"The CBI does not work under the government and it is an autonomous body. It works as per the rules and the Constitution," he said, adding that making such allegations would only weaken the CBI.

PTI