Resigned to end unnecessary controversy: Ashwani Kumar

Asked whether his resignation was an indication that Congress President Sonia Gandhi has lost confidence in him, the former Law Minister replied in a negative. "I do not think I have lost the support of any leader," he said.



He rejected suggestions that making him quit along with Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal on separate issues was 'unfair' on part of the Prime Minister. "It is prerogative of the Prime Minister to ask his colleagues when to resign and how to resign," he said.

Some supporters, who had gathered at his official residence, raised slogans in support of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Ashwani Kumar.

Kumar, in his resignation letter, had said he was resigning to put an end to "unnecessary controversy" and "public perception of any wrongdoing".

He maintained that the Supreme Court had not passed any strictures against him.

His exit from the Union Cabinet came after a controversy broke out over his meeting with the CBI Director and making changes in the the agency's draft probe report on Coalgate to be submitted to the apex court.