Wednesday, August 24 2005 18:02 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: With the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) gunning for him over his statement that Bihar Governor Buta Singh was his nominee, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad today (Aug 24, 2005) went on the defensive saying what he meant was that the then Chief Minister Rabri Devi had given her consent for his appointment.

As per Sarkaria Commission's recommendations, a Chief Minister is consulted before appointment of the Governor. Buta Singh was appointed Governor subsequent to Rabri Devi giving her nod to Centre's proposal after discussing the matter with us, he clarified but refused to buckle under mounting opposition demand for his resignation following his statement during an interview with a private TV news channel.

Why should I resign? There is no rationale in NDA's demand for my resignation, he told reporters after filing nomination for the national president ship of RJD for the fifth consecutive term.

Stating that much was being unnecessarily read in his statement on Buta Singh's appointment as Governor, Prasad asserted that he stood by his statement notwithstanding the hue and cry being raised by the NDA over the issue.

Since NDA has realised that it cannot defeat me in the elections, they are creating unnecessary controversies to take political mileage in the upcoming assembly polls, he charged.