The ruling Congress, on the other hand, claimed a moral high ground, saying the United Progressive Alliance minister tendered his resignation in highest traditions of democracy and hoped that the opposition would now let Parliament to function.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo M Karunanidhi said he had directed Raja, "my affectionate brother", to quit "only to allow the functioning of Parliament".
Describing it as the "mother of all scams" and "a monumental fraud of 1.76 lakh crore", Bharatiya Janata Party chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said Raja must be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
"A proper FIR should be lodged, The Central Bureau of Investigation is already inquiring. All those involved in this big scam...should be made accountable and liable. All should be prosecuted," he said.
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "The acceptance of Raja's resignation by the PM vindicates BJP's position ...but this does not absolve the government of the charges of corruption engulfing it in the recent past.
"The BJP still reiterates its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe and the Prime Minister -- Mr Clean -- has to do a lot of answering to the charges of corruption against the Congress government," he said.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the main opposition party in Tamil Nadu whose supremo Jayalalithaa had offered its support to UPA in return of "sacking" of Raja, termed it a "a victory for democracy".
"Madam's (Jayalalithaa) interview last week (offering support), had a catalytic effect on the whole episode.
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