Meanwhile, Natwar says he’s staying

With the Opposition aiming to ‘‘paralyse’’ Parliament tomorrow over his aide’s damning interview on his role in the...

With the Opposition aiming to ‘‘paralyse’’ Parliament tomorrow over his aide’s damning interview on his role in the Iraq oil-for-food scandal, Minister K Natwar Singh once again ruled out his resignation today, quashing hopes that the Congress-led UPA may have had of defusing the crisis.

Refusing to ‘‘sacrifice myself’’, Natwar, whose meeting with PM Manmohan Singh yesterday had sparked speculation that he may quit, today issued a statement saying his resignation would ‘‘look to many people like admission of guilt.’’

‘‘It will not stop with me. The Opposition will use my resignation to further tarnish the reputation of the Congress party,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘I will not let this happen.’’

‘‘There has been a great deal of speculation in the media about why I have not resigned. It is not because of any love of office that I am not resigning. To resign now would look, to many people, as an admission of guilt. I am not guilty of any wrong-doing in law or spirit. I refuse to sacrifice myself,’’ said the Minister without portfolio.