The Communist Party of India Friday did a volte face on the continuance of beleaguered K Natwar Singh in the Union Cabinet saying it would be "better" if he stepped down to take the wind out of Opposition's sails on the Iraqi oil-for-food scam.

Party General Secretary A B Bardhan said in a statement that "in view of latest developments, it will be better for Natwar Singh to step down."

"It will take the wind out of the sails of the malicious campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party who are holding Parliament to ransom and are trying without justification to escalate the issue further," he said. "The probe must go on, and whoever is found guilty thereafter should be punished appropriately," Bardhan said.

The CPI, along with CPI(M), had been strong supporters of Natwar Singh's continuance in the government so far and had dubbed the controversy arising out of the Volcker report as an "imperialist" conspiracy.

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