If Modi had to quit, he would have done it in 2002: Tewari

Congress today said it will not demand the resignation of Narendra Modi over the snooping row claiming that if the Gujarat Chief Minister really wanted to quit he would have done that after the 2002 Godhra riot.

"You people are asking me such question that you are pouring water off a duck's back. We should ask resignation from that person who has got some morality, shame and etiquette," Congress spokesman Manish Tewari told mediapersons in Goa, where he has come to inaugurate 44th edition of International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

Tewari was replying to a question by reporters on whether his party would seek Modi's resignation over the snooping row.

"If he had to submit his resignation he would have given it after the 2002 (Godhra) massacre. So, we should ask for resignation from that person who has a ray of morality in him," the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said.

Two investigative news portals, Cobrapost and Gulail, had claimed on November 15 that Modi's aide Amit Shah had ordered illegal surveillance of the woman at the behest of one "saheb".

They had released taped conversation between Shah and IPS officer G L Singhal to support their claim but said its authenticity could not be confirmed.

Tewari said the party respects the feeling of "that respected woman and her father."

"Nobody will want that their rights should be abused. No state or the government has the right to illegally abuse the human rights," he said.

The spokesman said that providing security and spying illegally are two different things.

"In this case if the telephones are tapped illegally, then it is completely wrong according to the Indian laws," Tewari said.

"It is a criminal offence. If the government is involved in all these offences then it is a constitutional right to take action against them," he added.