Jayanthi Natrajan's letter an 'image bachao abhiyaan': Congress

Slamming former party leader Jayanthi Natrajan, a miffed Congress on Saturday termed her press conference and letter to party President Sonia Gandhi as an 'image bachao abhiyaan'.

"Saddening that someone who got four terms in government chose to release a diatribe which is factually untrue. Unfortunately, her press conference and her letter seems like it is an 'image bachao abhiyaan'," party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said at a press conference here.

Defending Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, he added, "Congress policy regarding tribal welfare is well known, Rahul Gandhi visited Niyamgiri way before J. Natarajan was environment minister."

Sanghvi also stated that if Natarajan had a problem she should have given up her position when she was in charge.

He also questioned the timing of her letter, considering that the Delhi polls are just around the corner.

Earlier in the day, Natarajan, in a letter to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, stated she was quitting the party, citing 'political interference' and alleging that she received 'specific requests' from Rahul Gandhi on environmental clearances.

Natrajan later told the media that the Congress was no longer the party that she had joined thirty years ago.

She further alleged that she had resigned as the environment minister on the orders of party president Sonia Gandhi, but later media speculations made her feel vilified.