New Delhi: As the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leadership debates the future of Narendra Modi, the Gujarat Chief Minister tonight (Jun 19, 2004) parried questions whether he would resign from the post following his "negative image" after the post-Godhra riots in the State.

"I am carrying the responsibility given by five crore people of Gujarat and working in the field of education and energy," Modi told Star-News in an interview skirting a direct reply on the pointed question.

The Chief Minister was responding to a question whether at any stage he ever thought to resign from the post following negative criticism after the post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.

Faced with criticism from various quarters including from former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the issue, Modi said his primary objective was welfare of farmers and he was happy that his administration succeeded in that by raising farmers income from Rs 9,000 to Rs 21,000 crore.

Asked that there was a general impression against his style of functioning and that power was concentrated in his hand, Modi said recently ministers and senior State officials visited as many as 2100 villages to redress problems of farmers.

"I don't know whether it is centralised or decentralised. This is for wise men to think," he said.