Environment minister Jairam Ramesh got a temporary reprieve on Thursday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh rejected his offer of resignation from the Cabinet. Last week, the minister had caused embarrassment to the country by criticising his own government on foreign soil for it policy vis-?-vis China. As reported on Thursday, Ramesh had made the resignation offer to the Prime Minister on Monday.
Sources in the Prime Minister?s Office said on Thursday that Ramesh?s offer of resignation has been turned down by the Prime Minister. Congress sources, however, said that the environment minister was not out of the woods yet and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the PM were yet to take a final call on this issue. Sources said that the top leadership was of the view that Ramesh had crossed the line by questioning his country?s policy on foreign soil and it could not be condoned.
During his visit to Beijing last Saturday, Ramesh had criticised the home ministry for its ?paranoid? and ?alarmist? approach vis-?-vis Chinese companies. His remarks raised a storm in India with the Prime Minister calling him up to chastise him and the ruling Congress publicly rebuffing him for criticising the government on foreign soil.
Official sources said that although Ramesh?s resignation offer was under consideration and there was a big question mark over his continuance in the Union Council of Ministers, the UPA leadership was still holding discussions about the ?exit routes? and it might take some time before a decision was taken.