Jayanthi Natarajan Quits Congress, Attacks Rahul Gandhi: Highlights

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.

Here are the highlights of her statement during a press conference:

• Jayanthi Natarajan has started her media address
• It is an extremely painful moment for me as my family has been associated with the Indian National Congress for the last four generations.
• I come from a family that has Congress blood flowing in our veins. I have had a 30-year association with Congress.
• I acknowledge that I wrote the letter.
• Thought it's important to clarify my position.
• It is a heart-breaking day for me.
• The time has come for me to rethink my association with Congress because of what happened in recent past.
• Indian National Congress is no longer the Congress that I joined with such great hope and ideals.
• I have served without a blemish since 1986, both when Congress was in power and outside power.
• I have been a spokesperson of the Congress for 10 years without a single blemish on my career.
• I am extremely grateful to the party and the leadership for the opportunities given to me to serve the nation. I did this with tremendous dedication.
• Was made Minister of Environment and the party line was very clear - that policy of Mrs Indira Gandhi, and Mr Rajiv Gandhi, to preserve the environment must be protected at all costs.
• Therefore it was my duty to make sure that every single step I took, no matter how popular, should be according to rules, and to preserve environment at all cost.
• I received requests from Rahul Gandhi forwarding complaints from NGOs about environmental deterioration because of large projects.
• I was asked by Rahul Gandhi's office to make sure environment was protected and to ensure large projects don't cause tremendous havoc.
• Because of this I stopped some great investment projects and many in the cabinet were not pleased with this.
• Had to face anger and wrath of my cabinet colleagues who felt economic progress was being blocked.
• Followed party line under instructions from my leader. Madam Sonia Gandhi was also interested in forest rights, and said development of roads must be studied in the context of forest dwellers.
• Stopped Vedanta's Niyamgiri project. Rahul Gandhi told the tribals there that he would be their "sipahi". Adani project also received inputs from NGOs who had shared their stand with Rahul Gandhi. Specific input were given to me by his office on this.
• Around 17th November when I was on a tour, I received a call from Ajay Maken asking me to come back to Delhi.
• Learnt from the media that Rahul Gandhi's office was planting stories about me.
• Was totally sidelined by the national high command.
• I wrote a passionate email to Rahul Gandhi saying I saw your speech in FICCI, I want to know why you did this.
• Despite my email to Rahul Gandhi ji, he never gave me an appointment. I just got a reply from him stating, "I am a little busy, I will call you be back." That never happened.
• The main hard line on environment was given by Rahul Gandhi, he could have asked me to move faster.
• I was told to attack Shri Narendra Modi on the snoopgate case. He was the Prime Ministerial candidate at the time.
• I said I wasn't happy because he (Narendra Modi) should be attacked on policy, not on this (on snoopgate), but I was deputed to attack him (Narendra Modi).
• I then asked why I was told to launch an attack on Narendra Modi, who was the then BJP PM candidate.
• I was not given party work and subsequently, removed as spokesperson.
• I have no idea why I was removed as Congress spokesperson.
• Why was I removed 100 days before Lok Sabha elections? I still have no answer to it.
• Nobody has ever accused me of wrongdoing, just some vested interests.
• At the time I resigned as environment minister, Then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh praised my work, There was no wrongdoing that was pointed out.
• I am not guilty of anything. I am willing to be hanged if allegations are proved.
• I have been an utter loyalist of the Gandhi family, I have no shame in saying this.
• I repeatedly asked for an appointment with the High Command / Rahul Gandhi. In fact, I have lost count of the number of times I asked for an appointment, but didn't get one.
• I cannot survive in this suffocating atmosphere of lies.
• My issue is with national High Command, no issues with the state unit.
• Today I announce my resignation from primary membership of Congress.
• I want to uphold the legacy of my family, my integrity; I only did the right thing for my country, committed no wrongdoing.
• (Replying to a question on Narendra Modi): Why should I blame PM Narendra Modi when my own party has treated me like this. I had attacked him strongly.
• (On being asked about reports of being blackmailed): I totally refute and deny that allegation.
• (On being asked about her future plans / joining another party): I have absolutely no plans of joining any party.