New Delhi: Several days of guessing games later, K Natwar Singh, announced his resignation from the Union Cabinet on Tuesday night, a day ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh?s return from Russia, the date earlier set for his exit.
The surprise announcement came at a quick press conference called by Singh. The minister without portfolio said he would hand in his resignation to the Prime Minister on Wednesday, but was making the announcement on Tuesday because he did not want to be the excuse for the Opposition to stall Parliament anymore.
During the press conference, a defiant Natwar maintained that he was completely innocent in the UN's oil-for-food programme scandal in Iraq.
"This is most unfortunate. I reiterate that I am completely innocent and that no charges have been framed or brought against me," he said.
Singh, named in the Volcker report and cornered by the Opposition for his role in the high-profile scandal that has rocked the nation for nearly a month, was under extreme pressure from his own party to tender his resignation.
Following news of his involvement in the scandal last month, Singh was stripped of his post as external affairs minister.
In a brief statement to the media at his residence, Natwar Singh said, "Parliament and the Congress party are above individuals. I do not wish to be the excuse for the Opposition to stall Parliament."
"I have, therefore, decided to tender my resignation from the Union Cabinet, despite the fact that I have not violated the law in letter or spirit," he added.
However, IBN's Chief Political Correspondent, Bhupendra Choubey, says the real reason behind Natwar Singh's decision to tender his resignation was the feeling of being let down by his own party on the Volcker issue.
The Opposition, led by the BJP, has stalled Parliament proceedings ever since it convened for Winter Session on December 1, demanding the ouster of both Natwar Singh and Sonia Gandhi.
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Day of Victory
However despite this major victory the NDA remained unmoved, and maintained they wouldn't let the issue rest at all.
BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said, Natwar Singh was only being made a "sacrificial lamb" and that it seemed that UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi "was also involved" and demanded that Congress should come out clean on her role.
"Only a member has resigned but the sardar (chief) is still there", he said.
D Raja of the CPI, which is supporting the Congress led UPA government at the Centre, said that the truth in the Volcker report should come out and accused the BJP of holding Parliament to ransom.
On hearing the news of Natwar's resignation, BJP spokesperson Parakash Javadekar said that the NDA would decide upon its final strategy on the Volcker issue on Wednesday.
Indicating that Parliament would be allowed to run following the resignation of Union Minister Natwar Singh, BJP said it will seek renewed and "intense" discussions on the matter in the House.
"We would want a fresh intense discussion in Parliament following Natwar Singh's resignation", Naqvi said.
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