Asked to comment on the demand made by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Laloo Prasad Yadav in the light of the Bihar issue, party spokesman Ajit Jogi told reporters that the Congress was not at all agreeable to the demand.

``We are extremely clear on the issue. In our considered opinion, Article 356 should remain in its present form in the Constitution,'' he said, adding the Article was needed to deal with ``extraordinary situations''.

Disapproving of BJP chief Khushabhau Thakre's statement that Art 356 was redundant if it could not be used in Bihar, he said President K R Narayanan had taken a ``wise and commendable decision and prevented attempted rape of democracy by the BJP-led Government. Public criticism of decision taken by the President is not good fordemocracy''.

Another party spokesperson, Girija Vyas, said it was wrong of the Centre to decide to impose President's Rule in Bihar on the issue of law and order.

This was because the crime rate, particularly against women, was far more in BJP-ruled Delhi and Rajasthan, she said citing statistics.