Najma Heptullah crosses upper age limit of 75 years, quits as minister

New Delhi: In an expected move, Union minister for minority affairs Najma Heptullah, who has crossed the upper age limit of 75 years set up by the government, on Tuesday resigned from the post, a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s council of ministers witnessed a major reshuffle and expansion.

Minister of state for heavy industries G.M. Siddeshwara, 64, also resigned. Minister of state for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi has been promoted and given independent charge of the ministry.

Mr Siddeshwara was succeeded by Babul Supriyo, who was relieved of the charge of MoS in the ministry of urban development and housing and urban poverty alleviation. President Pranab Mukherjee accepted the resignations of Ms Heptullah and Mr Siddeshwara.

Sources said Ms Heptullah was out of country and could not submit her resignation on July 5, when the PM expanded his Cabinet, though she had decided to do so. Mr Siddeshwara, a Lok Sabha MP from Karnataka, had sought more time to submit his resignation as it was his birthday on July 5.

Ahead of last week’s Cabinet reshuffle, speculation was rife that Ms Heptullah, who turned 76 this year, could be asked to quit. Mr Modi, it was learnt, had set an age bar of 75 years for ministers, apparently the reason why many BJP veterans, including L.K. Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi, were kept out of the council of ministers. Both the BJP veterans are members of the party’s “margdarshak mandal”.

Ms Heptullah said she was extremely thankful to the PM for giving her the opportunity and honour to be in his Cabinet. She said she had resigned due to personal reasons and would always be available for any responsibility given to her.

Another Cabinet minister who turned 75 this month is Kalraj Mishra, a prominent Brahmin face of the BJP in Uttar Pradesh, where crucial Assembly elections are lined up early next year. Mr Mishra holds the portfolio of micro, small and medium enterprises.