The Hindu : National : Anbumani, Velu quit Cabinet

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National

Anbumani, Velu quit Cabinet

J. Balaji

Decision unfortunate, says Manmohan

— Photo: R.V. Moorthy

PMK leaders Anbumani Ramadoss and R. Velu (left) after submitting their resignations to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Saturday.

NEW DELHI: Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare R. Anbumani and Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu on Saturday quit from the Cabinet as their party, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), has pulled out the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and joined the AIADMK front.

The two Ministers met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here and handed over their resignation letters. They explained the circumstances which led to their party’s decision to quit the UPA in Tamil Nadu. According to Mr. Anbumani, Dr. Singh cherished their work in the last five years and described the decision to quit the Cabinet as “unfortunate.”

He (Prime Minister) told them that he would forward their resignation letters to President Pratibha Patil “with a heavy heart.”

Asserting that as Union Health Minister he could achieve something — like the National Rural Health Mission and take strong measures against tobacco products and alcohol use – Mr. Anbumani told journalists that the DMK was the main cause for the PMK’s exit.

The PMK was “forced out” of the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu in June last year and efforts made by the PMK to patch up did not yield any results. Besides, the DMK functionaries radiated animosity towards the PMK, he said, adding that despite this “we tried our best to be with the UPA.”

During the general council meeting of the party held on Thursday in Chennai, an overwhelming 97 per cent of the members wanted the PMK to pull out of the alliance and go with the AIADMK, he added.

Referring to Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal’s statement that the PMK would come back to the Congress coalition post-poll, he quipped: “All these issues will be sorted out. After the election, leaders of the alliance will sit together and take a decision. I am not in a position to talk about the alliance now.”

Dr. Anbumani refused to answer another question on whether the PMK was part of the Third Front.

The PMK member of the Rajya Sabha said he had a good relationship with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Singh. He acknowledged their cooperation in his ministerial functioning.

Mr. Velu said he and Union Minister of State for Railways in the then NDA regime A.K. Moorthy had brought many railway projects, gauge conversion works, new trains, additional stoppages for trains and railway electrification works to the State.

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