Tuesday, May 17 2005 19:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), two of the Left parties supporting United Progressive Alliance (UPA) at the Centre from outside, today (May 17, 2005) demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Laloo Prasad following framing of charges against him in a Jharkhand court in another fodder scam case.

"In view of the fresh charges against him, the second in over a fortnight, Laloo Prasad must resign (from the UPA Government) on moral grounds," Forward Bloc MP Debabrata Biswas told reporters after a 90-minute meeting of the four Left parties ahead of tomorrow's (May 18, 2005) UPA Coordination Committee meeting.

He said that till the time Laloo Prasad came out clean, he should not join the Government.

Biswas said that the CBI court in Ranchi rejecting Laloo Prasad's discharge petition and framing charges came up for discussion at today's meeting of the four Left parties supporting the UPA Government from outside.

Without naming Prasad, RSP MP Abani Roy said that any politician, either MLA or MP, should resign from his office on moral ground if there was any allegation against that person.

"This will enhance his or her image and the prestige of the party," Roy said.

Meanwhile, Communist Party Of India (CPI) general secretary A B Bardhan said that both his party and CPM have just come to know about the fresh charges framed against the Railway Minister and they would give their comments after going through them.