Natarajan quits Congress

In a major setback to India's main opposition party Congress, former Environment Minister and senior leader Jayanthi Natarajan has decided to quit the party while making a scathing attack on Rahul Gandhi and accusing him of sending "specific requests" on environmental clearances for projects.

In a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Natarajan stated she received “specific requests” from Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on environmental clearances and she consequently rejected big-ticket projects despite pressure from Cabinet colleagues seeking approval.

Addressing a press conference in Chennai, Natarajan said it was an "extremely painful" day for her as her family has been closely associated with Congress for four generations and hurt to break her association with the party.

She added it was because of Rahul and Sonia Gandhi's approach that she stopped some great investment projects and many in the cabinet were not pleased with this.

Meanwhile, in a counter-attack on Natarajan, Congress raised questions on the timing of her resignation and said serious allegations of corruption were behind her removal from the then UPA govt.

Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters in Delhi that Natarajan was acting at the behest of her new "political masters" who may have got evidence against her.    

Congress also rallied behind Rahul, dismissing as "completely baseless" the allegations of his interference in the work of Environment Ministry and accused Natarajan of having "ulterior motives".