Thursday, January 26 2006 16:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Upset over Buta Singh taking the Republic Day salute despite the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) objections, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L K Advani today (Jan 26,2006) attributed the Bihar Governor's continuation in office after court strictures to 'some compulsion' of the Central Government.

"This Central Government appears to be having some compulsion. Otherwise, it would have acted yesterday itself (against Singh)," Advani told reporters here.

His comments came after the Bihar Governor, who faced court strictures for his role in last year's state Assembly dissolution, took the Republic Day salute in Patna.

"The Bihar Governor defiantly said (after court strictures) that he would be taking the Republic Day salute, which he did today. And it is up to the Central Government to think over it now," Advani remarked.

Yesterday (Jan 25,2006), NDA leaders, including Advani, petitioned the President to secure Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation and dismiss Buta Singh before the Republic Day.

In his remarks after meeting President A P J Abdul Kalam,the former BJP chief said Buta Singh should be sacked before he took salute as Bihar Governor.