Jayanthi Natarajan’s sudden resignation from Cabinet stirs controversy

NEW DELHI: Environment and forests minister Jayanthi Natarajan resigned from the Union council of ministers on Saturday, triggering speculation about the precise reason for why she had to step down from the coveted perch.

The minister with independent charge of the key ministry, whose resignation was promptly accepted by the President, said she wanted "to work for the party in view of the coming Lok Sabha elections".

For his part, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh complimented her 28-month stint in the government, and said she had been a valued colleague. "I am sure that your work for our party, for which you are leaving the government, will also be of immense value," he said.

But that did not quell the speculation that reasons for the resignation actually run deeper than the bonhomie on display between the PM and Natarajan would suggest.

Party and government sources said Natarajan had to quit because of specific complaints to both PMO and party leadership from corporate houses and industry about the delay in environmental clearances that were holding up high worth projects.

In fact, within hours of her resignation, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, while addressing a business audience at FICCI, acknowledged unreasonable pendency in green clearances.

Rahul told the gathering, "Many of you have expressed your frustration with environmental clearances that are delaying projects unduly. There is excessive administrative and judicial discretion. The loopholes are so big you can drive a truck through some of them! Environmental and social damage must be avoided but decisions must also be transparent, timely and fair."

Natarajan's scalp was seen as an assuring signal to the industry to set the tone for Rahul's interaction. The Congress heir apparent has been meeting industrialists in groups for detailed discussions facilitated by nominated Rajya Sabha MP Ashok Ganguly. His reference at FICCI to the industrialists' "frustration with clearances" apparently flows from the feedback given to him during the interactions.

Many felt it was too much of coincidence that the minister had quit ahead of Rahul's visit to FICCI on Saturday evening.

They also did not find convincing that Natarajan's resignation was a precursor to an organizational restructuring which could see ministers leaving the government for party work ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Skeptics backed up their disbelief by putting forward several arguments. First, that ministers who are already deeply invested in the party work and are the most likely ones to be drafted for organizational duties; for instance rural development minister Jairam Ramesh, are still in government.

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Jayanthi Natarajan's sudden resignation from Cabinet stirs controversy