New Delhi, Oct. 15: The Congress leadership has altered its response to corruption charges, concluding that dumping ministers without an inquiry and substantive evidence was only deepening the credibility crisis instead of bolstering its image.

The leadership today analysed the controversy over Salman Khurshid and concluded that he had done nothing to attract any culpability in his capacity as Union law minister.

Sources said neither Prime Minister Manmohan Singh nor Congress president Sonia Gandhi was inclined to consider the demand for Khurshid’s resignation.

The controversy relates to a trust run by Khurshid and his wife, which is not part of his ministerial responsibility. Khurshid has convinced the leadership that Rs 71 lakh, given by the Centre, was not misappropriated and discrepancies in documentation were a matter of inquiry.

The party feels that even if some wrongdoing is detected in the functioning of the trust, it should not affect the continuance of Khurshid in the cabinet.

After a meeting of the group of ministers on media this morning, information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni dismissed the demands of Arvind Kejriwal who, according to her, “was making charges against everybody round the clock”.

Sonia asserted that “there was no question of isolating Khurshid.”

Kejriwal had earlier in the day alleged that one Pankaj Kumar from Mainpuri, whose name figures on the list of beneficiaries, did not get any help from the NGO. “The document, given to the government, states that he has been provided with a hearing aid. But, he has problems in his legs. He was not given any hearing aid,” Kejriwal claimed in the presence of Kumar.

Kumar said he had not received any hearing aid though he did not need it. “I have problems with my legs and not ears,” he said.

Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, too, said: “There is nothing wrong and Khurshid has explained everything.”

Sources said the group of ministers, the meeting of which was attended by Khurshid, felt there was no point in taking note of every allegation made by anybody, particularly when corruption charges were being used as the primary political weapon by the group headed by Kejriwal.

The group felt that those, who had credible evidence, should move the courts.

The party, too, is in tune with this sentiment as it realised that other parties had merrily brazened out grave charges in many states.

Congress spokesperson Sandeep Dikshit said: “Khurshid has approached the court and the Uttar Pradesh government has ordered an inquiry. Both the avenues of finding the truth have been opened. We should leave it at that.”

Asked if Khurshid should not resign to ensure a fair inquiry, Dikshit said: “The system is run according to the rules and norms. Some individuals may like it or not and they can do their politics as they wish, but the system will follow the rules. Let’s wait for the inquiry.”

In a clear indication that the party unambiguously backed Khurshid, the spokesperson said: “He has very effectively countered the charges and given his evidence. Much of what has been alleged is not true.”