The Minister told mediapersons here that he had offered an inquiry into the incidents at Payyavur panchayat by a high-ranking official. However, Congress leaders who met him insisted on an immediate order from him cancelling the panchayat meeting which discussed the no-confidence motion, he said.

``These leaders very well knew that it was impossible for the Government to meet such a demand. The Government can order such a course of action only after getting the matter probed by a department official. One cannot take unilateral decisions,'' he said.

The Minister said the allegation that the Government ignored the Congress agitation was not true. He had made clear the Government position to KPCC president Thennala Balakrishna Pillai and Congress leaders Aryadan Mohammed, G Karthikeyan and ProfK V Thomas when they called on him on Tuesday evening.

This was also conveyed to Opposition leader A K Antony and K Karunakaran, MP, over telephone. The Minister confirmed that IUML leader K Kunhalikutty also talked to him, seeking a settlement to the issue.

The minister pointed out that according to the provisions of the Panchayat Raj law, a period of six months was mandatory between two no-confidence motions. But an exemption could be granted if it was proved that a situation had developed which was beyond human control. There should be hard evidence before granting such an exemption, the minister said.

``The Congress leaders said they cannot end the agitation on the basis of the appointment of a commission. But everybody knows that many an agitation was called off in the State following the appointment of commissions,'' Paloly Mohammedkutty said.

He asked Congress leaders not to see the invitation for talks as a weakness on the part of the government. The government was keen to uphold democraticpractices and hence it had invited Congress leaders for several rounds of talks.