External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday strongly denied he had made a call to Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari and expressed worry that "a neighbouring state might even consider acting on the basis of such a call and try to give it credibility with other states."

Goa's ruling Congress has denied any rift in the ranks, but tensions were evident with its Home Minister conspicuous by his absence at a meeting to resolve differences following a minister's son being charged with the rape of a German teenager.