SHIMLA: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday demanded resignation of a senior Minister in the Virbhadra Singh Cabinet on moral grounds in the wake of the Combined Pre Medical Test examination paper leakage scam alleging that "the needle of suspicion is clearly pointing towards him".

Addressing a Press conference here, senior BJP member Mahendra Singh Thakur charged that the mastermind behind the swindle used to operate from the residence of the Minister who represents the Gopalpur constituency in the Vidhan Sabha.

He alleged that a daughter of this Minister's brother had also made it to the Medical College along with the daughter of his co-brother.

At least nine candidates from Gopalpur alone were named in the merit list that was quashed by the High Court, he added.

Quoting investigative agencies, Mr. Thakur said most of the tainted candidates appeared to have connections with the Congress party.

"They are either the office-bearers of the organisation or big sympathisers of the ruling party in the State," alleged Mr. Thakur.

Earlier in the day the BJP staged a walkout from the State Assembly when the discussion on the scam resumed and the members were stopped by the Speaker from making direct references to relatives of the tainted candidates.

Chief Minister V.B. Singh in his reply said, "the Government is determined to find the truth and would not spare anyone howsoever influential or big he might be".

He agreed there had been lapses on the part of Himachal University which was not having an alternative set of question papers when it got information about the alleged leakage.

He said there was no involvement of the Vice-Chancellor or HPU officials and the paper was leaked in the Lucknow press.

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