"He has no credibility left at all. He was only trying to defend himself. But with these comments his prestige has further eroded," Congress Member of Parliament Ponnam Prabhakar told reporters.
"His remark that pro-Telangana leaders tried to corner him for not agreeing to provide an audience with President Pratibha Patil is ridiculous. Had we wanted an appointment with the President, we could have arranged it in New Delhi itself," said Prabhakar, convenor of state Congress MP's forum.
Tiwari, who resigned in the wake of a TV expose allegedly showing him in a compromising position with women, on Monday had said pro-Telangana leaders were behind the attempt to malign him as he refused to entertain their request for an appointment with the President during her proposed visit to Hyderabad.
Senior Congress MLA K Jana Reddy said Tiwari's allegations are 'meaningless' as no one sought an appointment with the President.