Former UPA Minister Jayanthi Natarajan Quits Congress; Blames Sonia, Rahul

2015-01-30 17

TV9 News: Former UPA Minister Jayanthi Natarajan Quits Congress; Blames Sonia, Rahul........,

In a major embarrassment for the Congress party days ahead of the Delhi Assembly polls, Jayanthi Natarajan, who was sacked as Environment minister three months ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls has quit the Congress after what she terms has been a period of 'excruciating mental agony and public humiliation.'

The Sources confirmed that Natarajan had resigned, following media reports, that the veteran Congress leader was unhappy at how the party completely sidelined her, and have not yet given her a reason for why she was asked to step down as minister a day ahead of Rahul Gandhi's address to FICCI where he assured industrial leaders that the government would ensure a investor-friendly environment.

In a November 2014 letter addressed to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, that has been exclusively accessed.

Natarajan slammed the Congress chief as well as party vice president Rahul Gandhi, saying his officers planted stories against her in the media immediately after she quit the cabinet in 2013 saying her resignation was not for 'party work' as officially stated.

Writing that she trusted Sonia with her entire life and not for a moment did she think twice about resigning when asked to work for the party, Natarajan questioned the Congress chief over why she has been constantly refused a party position and even sacked as an official spokesperson and not allowed to speak to the media.

Natarajan said throughout her tenure in the government, she stuck to the party line and stood by Indira and Rajiv's vision on environment protection.