The Hindu : Judev quit on moral grounds: Rajnath Singh

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 18, 2003

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Judev quit on moral grounds: Rajnath Singh

By Aarti Dhar

RAIPUR NOV. 17. The Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Dilip Singh Judev, has resigned on "moral grounds" and not under pressure from the Centre, the Union Agriculture Minister, Rajnath Singh, who is in charge of the Bharatiya Janata Party affairs in Chhattisgarh, said today.

Talking to reporters here, Mr. Singh said that Mr. Judev wanted to step down on Sunday itself but such decisions were taken after consultation with the high command. "We asked him to wait before taking a final decision because the Prime Minister was also away," he said, adding that Mr. Judev was ready to face the toughest test to prove his innocence.

The BJP had sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the allegations of corruption against Mr. Judev and that since the election process was on, the party was approaching the Election Commission to intervene in the matter instead of the State Government that normally makes such recommendations to the Centre. "The State is now under the supervision of the Election Commission."

Mr. Singh said no one in Chhattisgarh believed what was being shown in the video clips as people were aware of the strong "character and leadership" of Mr. Judev. It was the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Ajit Jogi, who was creating a "crisis of character" and indulging in "dirty politics", he alleged. Accusing Mr. Jogi of "conspiring" against Mr. Judev, he said the Chief Minister's demand for Mr. Judev's resignation was not justified because he himself had not stepped down despite being chargesheeted by the CBI in the Intelligence Bureau fraud case.

The Congress president, Sonia Gandhi had "links" with Ottavio Quattrocchi in the Bofors gun deal controversy, he said and added that it was expected of her to ask Mr. Jogi to step down after he was chargesheeted. "It is high moral integrity that makes the BJP leaders step down even when mere allegations are levelled against them. This is what makes the BJP a party with a difference," he said.

Mr. Judev said the war had now been declared and it would be the people of Chhattisgarh who would fight his battle. "I will now go to the people's court to seek justice," he said. It was announced at the press conference that Mr. Judev would continue to lead the election campaign in the State.

Bandh observed

UNI reports from Jashpur:

A near total bandh was observed here in Mr. Judev's hometown. Shops and establishments remained closed and vehicular traffic was thin as Mr. Judev's supporters dismissed the charges as baseless, saying that it was an attempt to tarnish his image.

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