Saturday, November 5 2005 16:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Defending his cabinet colleague External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh over the Volcker committee's report on Iraqi pay-offs, Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu today (Nov 5, 2005) said there was no need for Singh to resign.

"If a person commits a wrong, it has to be verified and clarified. Till such time a person cannot be asked to resign", he told reporters here.

Asked whether the Volcker committee issue could affect the Dr Manmohan Singh led Government at the Centre, he said such mudslinging on anybody, especially on politicians, was always there. "These are just occupational hazards".

He asserted that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the centre would last its full term.