Congress demands Modi's resignation over Bannerjee report

The Congress on Friday called for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to resign from his post in the wake of the UC Banerjee Committee Report, which has held that the Godhra train mishap was 'accidental' and not the result of any ''conspiracy.''

"The report has once again exposed Mr Modi as a particular community was targetted and violence unleashed in his regime under the pretext that the fire in the Sabarmati Express was ignited by members of that community,'' Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told mediapersons in New Delhi.

Complete Coverage: The Godhra Riots

He said that the party had been maintaining from day one that the fire, which killed 57 kar sewaks returning from Ayodhya, was not the handiwork of a particular community but an accident. 

''Our stand had been vindicated by the report,'' he said.  Mr Singhvi said "after this report, Mr Modi should look within and resign on his own," adding that the ''Congress has ceased demanding Mr Modi's resignation from Mr Modi as a resignation is demanded from someone who is not shameless."

He noted that the only way to remove Mr Modi was by imposing President's Rule in Gujarat but the Congress "does not want to make a martyr of him."