‘If vilification drive continues, I will go to SIT’

Bhujbal said he was prepared to face any probe. ‘‘I am prepared for a probe either by the Central Bureau of Investigation or the Special Investigation Team,’’ he said.

He said though he has not yet been summoned by the SIT, he may think of presenting himself before the SIT. ‘‘I have not made up my mind, but if the vilification campaign continues, I will have to take that step too,’’ he said.

When told even his own party workers did not believe his reason to quit, he said: ‘‘I am helpless if my partyworkers don’t believe that I resigned to protect the freedom of the press. I had strongly criticised the Shiv Sena-BJP government for its complete failure to protect the freedom of the press. During the rule of the saffron combine, there were several cases of attacks on media offices. Let me explain, I was the first person to set up the SIT to probe the Telgi scam, despite the fact that major offences were committed during the Sena-BJP rule.’’