India's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has rejected a resignation bid by the chief minister of riot-torn Gujarat state. BJP says the best option for Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi would be to go for a fresh mandate. Elections in the state would normally be due early next year. 

The BJP is holding a three-day convention in the coastal state of Goa to discuss its strategy following criticism of the government's handling of Hindu-Muslim violence that killed up to 800 people, most of them Muslims. Mr. Modi offered to resign Friday following intense criticism that he didn't do enough to stop the violence.Gujarat is one of several BJP controlled states. 

The opposition Congress party which is also holding a convention denounced the decision to keep Mr. Modi in power, saying it was a damaging attack on secular traditions. 

Reuters reports sporadic violence continued Friday in the main Gujarat city of Ahmedabad. Seven people were reported injured when police opened fire on crowds of Hindus and Muslims throwing stones at each other. 

The violence erupted in late February and early March after Muslims attacked a train carrying Hindu activists back to Gujarat from the disputed northern holy site of Ayodhya. 

Some information for this report provided by AFP and AP.

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