The Hindu : Haren Pandya quits Cabinet

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 07, 2002

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Haren Pandya quits Cabinet

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR Aug. 6. The Gujarat Minister of State for Revenue, Haren Pandya, resigned from the Cabinet here today, hours after the president of the State Bharatiya Janata Party declared as "closed'' the controversy over his alleged appearance before a tribunal of retired judges probing the recent communal riots. The office of the Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, confirmed that he had accepted Mr. Pandya's resignation.

The Minister submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister in the evening with a request to relieve him of the ministerial responsibilities immediately. Just as he had done in his "clarification'' to the notice issued by the BJP State president, Rajendrasinh Rana, Mr. Pandya hit back at Mr. Modi in his resignation letter also, in which he said that he was quitting the Cabinet as he did not want the "interests of the party to be harmed by an individual's whims and obstinacy.''

Even as Mr. Pandya told presspersons that his decision was personal and had not been taken under instruction from the party, the Cabinet spokesman and Urban Development Minister, I. K. Jadeja, claimed that Mr. Pandya was given two options — tender an "apology'' for appearing before the tribunal or resign.

Both Mr. Pandya and the party president refuted Mr. Jadeja's claim.

Mr. Pandya said that he would not withdraw the resignation under any circumstances. "This is not a drama, this is for real. There is no question of my withdrawing the resignation under any circumstances.''

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