To ask for resignation is part of opposition's job: Sharad Pawar

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo and agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who is under attack for rising prices, today rejected opposition parties' demand to quit saying it is part of their job.

"This type of demand is their job. Nothing wrong with them. We know what we have done and what we are doing," Pawar told reporters when asked about opposition's demand for his resignation.

"This year I have completed 43 years without a single day break in public life, with more than 23 years in government," he said.

The minister said he was not under any pressure and many of the decisions announced today to check rising prices were taken earlier and now deadline have been extended.

Earlier this week, Pawar came under attack for his "I am not an Astrologer" remark to a query as to by when the prices could come down. BJP and Samajwadi Party (SP) had demanded his resignation for "failure" to bring down prices, while UP chief minister Mayawati attacked Pawar for his "irresponsible" remarks.

Pawar was elected for Maharashtra Assembly in 1967 and since then he is in public life occupying high positions like chief minister of the state for four times and country's defence minister.

Pawar has been Agriculture, consumer affairs, food and public distribution minister since May 2004.