Former Union Environment Minister and Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan on Friday announced that she would quit the party.
In a > major disclosure made to The Hindu on Thursday, Ms. Natarajan had said she received “specific requests” from Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on environmental clearances during UPA rule and she consequently rejected big-ticket projects despite pressure from Cabinet colleagues seeking approval.
Meanwhile, Congress sources said they are likely to take the line that Rahul Gandhi stood for tribal rights in his views on projects mentioned by Ms. Natarajan in her letter to Sonia Gandhi in November, exclusively available with The Hindu. The sources said there was nothing in the letter that indicated wrong doing. >Read story.
Live updates from the press conference:
1: 30 pm: I have no issues with Rahul Gandhi
1: 25 pm: I have sufficient proof to what I have said in my letter.
1: 20 pm: I was told not to go to the media. Congress leader Motilal Vora asked me not to join the new party launched by Vasan
1: 17 pm: I was not ready to contest the Lok Sabha polls. I was in a state of dejection and depression: Jayanthi Natarajan
1: 15 pm: Jayanthi Natarajan says "This is just not a political issue. I am sharing my agony as a victim."
1: 10 pm: I don't expect a call from high command. Even it comes, I am not willing to reconsider my decision.
1: 07 pm: I was a functionary and not part of the core group of the Congress.
1: 05 pm: I tried a 100 times to meet Shri Rahul Gandhi
Jayanthi Natarajan - I feel let down that I have not been given an explanation why I was removed.
— Vijay Kumar (@vijaythehindu) >January 30, 2015
1: 02 pm: I don't expect a call from high command. Even it comes, I am not willing to reconsider my decision
1: 00 pm: I am not accusing anybody of corruption. My own party has treated me so badly.
12: 59 pm: I was removed 100 days before election why I was removed...still I don't have an answer: Jayanthi Natarajan
12: 56 pm: "I welcome the BJP government to go through every single clearance given by me as Minister."
12: 55 pm: No plans to join any political party now, she says
Jayanthi Natarajan - I made so many attempts to meet my party leader but in vain. I was not given appointment
— Vijay Kumar (@vijaythehindu) >January 30, 2015
12: 50 pm: Jayanthi Natarajan announces her resignation from the Tamil Nadu Congress Trust and primary membership of the party
12: 49 pm: I have not done anything wrong. Even the PM wrote appreciating my work
12: 48 pm: I am an utter loyalist of the Gandhi family. I am not ashamed saying this
12: 45 pm: Ajay Maken asked me to launch an attack on Modi on Snoopgate. I refused saying the spokesperson had to do it not me: Jayanthi Natarajan
12: 40 pm: I served the country as a good minister for environment following the instructions of my high command.
12: 39 pm: "Congress today is not the Congress I joined. Time has come to review my association"
12: 37 pm: Jayanthi Natarajan acknowledges > her letter published in The Hindu today. Says an extremely painful day.
12: 35 pm: "I am a fourth generation congress worker. I come from a family which has congress blood, " says Jayanthi Natarajan
Media massed to hear Jayanthi Natarajan at Savera Hotel, Chennai. Expected to announce resignation. >#JayanthiVsRahul>pic.twitter.com/Tx6awIwZv2
— G.Ananthakrishnan (@ganant) >January 30, 2015
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