The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Thursday said it 'morally disapproves' of the continuance of 'tainted' ministers in the United Progressive Alliance government.

But the party said it could do little about it as per the existing laws.

"Propriety does not permit continuance of tainted ministers and we too morally disapprove of it. Had CPI-M been in power, we would not have allowed people charged with criminal offences to become ministers," CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury said in Patna.

Yechury, however, said, "The law of the land says one is innocent until proven guilty. As long as this law exists there is nothing that can prevent such people from becoming ministers. They (the UPA) have chosen to go by the letter of the law."

The CPI-M leader stressed the need for a national debate on the issue.