Jayanthi Natarajan, former Environment Minister, has quit the Congress with a scathing attack on vice-president Rahul Gandhi, alleging that "specific requests" by him were the basis of whether industrial projects were given clearances by her ministry, and that he shifted from a pro-environmental position to corporate-friendly stand for the elections last year.
Her resignation letter, accessed by The Hindu, was sent in November to Mr Gandhi's mother, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, but failed to elicit any response, said sources close to Ms Natarajan.
In her letter to Mrs Gandhi, Ms Natarajan says, "I received specific requests [which used to be directives for us] from Shri Rahul Gandhi and his office forwarding environmental concerns in some important areas and I took care to honour those 'requests' ."
Ms Natarajan has also claimed in her letter that she was forced by the Congress to attack the BJP's Narendra Modi, now Prime Minister, in what was called the Snoopgate controversy, despite her reluctance to bring up matters that were personal. The opposition alleged that as Gujarat Chief Minister, Mr Modi, through his then Home Minister Amit Shah, had ordered the illegal surveillance of a young woman architect during her visits to Gujarat.
"Attempt To Save Accused Instead Of...": Rahul Gandhi On Doctor Rape-Murder "Neither Tired Nor Retired": Bhupinder Hooda On Next Haryana Chief Minister Trinamool Vs Ex Women's Panel Chief Over Kolkata Doctor's Rape-Murder Vandalism At Kolkata Hospital Where Doctor Was Raped, Tear Gas Fired Starbucks' Indian-Origin CEO, Recently Fired, Never Worked Past 6 pm 150 mg Semen In Kolkata Doctor's Body, Suspect Gang-Rape: Parents To Court Delhi Airport Becomes 1st To Achieve Net Zero Carbon Emission Status US Welcomes India's Engagement In War Between Russia, Ukraine Google Says Iran Hackers Target Trump, Kamala Harris Campaigns Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.