Leaders of the National Democratic Alliance on Thursday met and urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to advise Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh [Images] to drop Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav from the Cabinet.

"We hold the prime minister guilty of tainting his own high office, first by including criminal elements in the government and now by indefensibly defending his continued inclusion in the Cabinet," the delegation led by NDA chairman and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in a memorandum submitted to the President.

During their 20-minute long meeting with Kalam, the NDA leaders also complained that the United Progressive Alliance government reportedly attempted to "dissuade" Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images], from calling on Vajpayee during his recent visit.

• Lalu will stay, Manmohan asserts

Emerging from the meeting, Leader of the Opposition, Lal Kishenchand Advani told reporters that they apprised the President of the government's "attitude" towards the opposition and on the issue of "tainted ministers".

The memorandum the leaders submitted to the President said: "The prime minister may not have much control over criminalisation of politics which, unfortunately, enables persons with criminal backgrounds to get elected as members of Parliament. However, he has full and unfettered authority and prerogative - indeed, moral obligation - not to include such persons in his council of ministers.

• Charge sheet filed against Lalu

"We urge the President, as the ultimate defender of the high ideals on which the Indian Republic is founded, to advise the prime minister to drop Lalu from his ministry without any further delay."