I shall be available for any responsibility given to me in future: Najma Heptulla

Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla resigned yesterday citing personal reasons

Expressing her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her the opportunity and honour to be in the Cabinet, Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptulla, who resigned yesterday, has said she will always be available for any responsibility given to her in the future, adding that she has resigned from her post due to personal reasons.

"I am extremely thankful to the Hon'ble Prime Minister for giving me the opportunity and honour to be in his Cabinet, where I gained a lot of experience and I have tried to fulfil his expectation towards 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. I will always be available for any responsibility given to me in future. I have resigned from my post due to personal reasons," she said in a statement.

President Pranab Mukherjee yesterday accepted the resignations of Heptulla and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises G.M. Siddeshwara with immediate effect.

As per sources, Heptulla was out of the country, and therefore, couldn't submit her resignation on July 5, though she had decided to do so.

Similarly, Siddeshwara was too out of Delhi and couldn't submit his resignation on July 5.

On return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi from his five-day visit to African mainland yesterday, they submitted their resignation, which has been accepted.

Under Heptulla, the ministry held the record for being able to spend 98% of the entire Plan Budget in 2015-16 on various schemes and programs meant for the people of minority community.

As advised by Prime Minister Modi, the President has directed that Minister of State Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi shall be assigned the Independent charge of the Ministry of Minority Affairs.