Opposition Congress today demanded resignation of BJP president Nitin Gadkari for giving clean chit to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank over the controversial allotment of 56 hydel projects.

"The way the allotments were cancelled, it clearly shows that the entire process was faulty and smacked of corruption," Leader of Opposition, Harak Singh Rawat said.

Rawat is seeking a CBI probe over the issue.

"Gadkari is a leader of a national party. He should not have given a clean chit without carefully studying the files related to the projects. Since, Gadkari has given the clean chit, it also shows either he is also involved in the process or wants to shield the chief minister. Therefore, he has to resign from the party post," Rawat said.

"Unfortunately, Gadkari during his visit last week gave a clean chit to Nishank claiming there was nothing wrong and that the entire allotment process was transparent," he added.

Incidentally, the BJP chief gave a clean chit to Nishank saying he himself had seen the papers related to the entire process of allotment of 56 hydel projects and found "everything right".

Rawat's comment comes after the Uttarakhand government cancelled the entire process of allotment of controversial hydel-projects under the self-identified route and also the rest of the bids.

Uttarakhand Kranti Dal (UKD), a coalition partner of the BJP state government, also described the cancellation of the allotment of 56 hydel projects as unfortunate.

"Any wrong-doing related a to development process is a big set back for the new state of Uttarakhand," a UKD spokesperson said.

The party also sought a high-level inquiry into the entire allotment process.

Similarly, BSP has also demanded resignation of Nishank saying he should take the moral responsibility for the entire allotment process.