Blagojevich's fund-raiser Rajinder Bedi quits state office

An Indian-American fundraiser for ousted Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has quit his job with the state's commerce department after the administration told him that he would be fired by the end of the month.      

Rajinder Bedi was notified on Tuesday that he would be let go from his post as managing director of the Office of Trade and Investment in the state Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, said Robert Reed, spokesman for Illinois' new governor Pat Quinn.

Bedi, who had helped Blagojevich raise significant campaign money in Chicago's Indian American community, was hired by the ex-governor in June 2003.    
 
Referred to as "my Sikh warrior" by Blagojevich, he was making $ 111,708 a year and his duties included overseeing nine foreign trade offices around the world. 
    
Names of Bedi and another Blagojevich supporter Raghuveer Nayak surfaced when the ex-governor was accused of federal corruption charges, including that of trying to auction Obama's vacant senate seat to the highest bidder.

The two Indian Americans discussed raising at least $ one million for Blagojevich's campaign as a way to encourage him to pick US Representative Jesse Jackson Jr to fill the Senate Seat now held by Roland Burris.

Quinn, however, said his decision was not based on Bedi's connections to Blagojevich. Currently on oversees trip, Bedi responded by saying that he would send a letter of resignation, which would be effective from April 30.

"I gave Mr Bedi through my staff basically the information that his service would end at the end of the month," the Chicago Tribune quoted Quinn as saying. "He decided to resign and I wish him well," he said.

Quinn said his decision was not based on Bedi's connections to Blagojevich, but that "I thought it was time for a change" in how the state deals with international trade and investment.

"If I see that a change is needed, then I implement that change," Quinn said.   
  
"I just think that the whole way Illinois approaches international trade, international relations, needs kind of an overhaul and that is really where I am coming from. I want to have people that I feel are appropriate in that position, in that division," he said.