Wednesday, December 22 2004 15:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Railway Minister Laloo Prasad today (Dec 22, 2004) rejected the NDA's (National Democratic Alliance) demand seeking his resignation from the Union Government in the wake of registration of an FIR against him on the charge of violation of model code of conduct for elections by distributing money among some dalit women at Bihta on Saturday (Dec 18, 2004).

"Why should I tender my resignation? I have not committed any crime," Laloo told reporters while going to attend his party's national executive meeting in Patna.

Reiterating that he had given a hundred or two hundred Rupees to the dalit women when they stopped his vehicle at Bihta and demanded sweets for his elevation as Railway Minister, he said that he had not in any way violated the model code of conduct for election.

The Opposition had stalled the proceedings of the two Houses of Parliament demanding resignation of the Railway Minister on moral grounds in the wake of the FIR charging him with bribing voters by distributing cash among some women.

Describing the NDA charge against him as "biased and politically- motivated," Laloo reminded former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee of the stampede that had claimed several lives during distribution of sarees at senior BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) leader Lalji Tandon's house in Lucknow during the last Lok Sabha poll.

Asked whether he regretted for the mistake he had committed by giving cash to the dalits, he said, "What sort of mistake are you all talking about. I have done nothing wrong and I will not repent."

Laloo said the women, whom he considered as his sisters and had given the cash, too had admitted in their statements recorded before a Danapur court yesterday that they had taken the money for sweets and "there is no ulterior motive behind it".

He said the people would give a befitting reply to the NDA in the upcoming Assembly poll.