Resignation from Cabinet: Jayanthi Natarajan denies pressure
Former Union Minister refutes reports that he was forced out of the govt.
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2013-12-23 08:27 GMT
New Delhi: Former minister of state for environment Jayanthi Natarajan on Sunday strongly refuted reports that she was forced out of the government for allegedly blocking major projects, and said she resigned on her own in view of the coming Lok Sabha polls. She also claimed she hadn’t put any project on hold.
“No projects have been put on hold. No projects at all. I quit the government 100 per cent for party work. No other reasons. The PM appreciated my work,” she said, adding: “I requested the PM to relieve me to let me devote my energy for party work.”
On complaints that she held up clearances for industrial projects, the Rajya Sabha MP from Tamil Nadu said she had been a bit apprehensive about dam and hydroelectric power projects after the Uttarakhand tragedy.
Her exit from the government came amid reports that industry leaders had complained against her. This was buttressed by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s speech, where he said: “This is what we face.... In India, there are a lot of arbitrary powers. The environment minister or CM can take any decision he wants.”