The Hindu : Front Page : Khurana resigns as Rajasthan Governor

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004

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Front Page

Khurana resigns as Rajasthan Governor

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, OCT. 25. Ending months of speculation, the Rajasthan Governor, Madan Lal Khurana, today resigned from his post and declared his intention to take up issues affecting the people of Delhi, including the ongoing "agitation" against the closure of industries.

Mr. Khurana met the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, this afternoon and submitted his resignation with a request to be relieved at the earliest. Mr. Kalam asked him to continue in office till an alternative arrangement was made.

Mr. Khurana took charge as the Governor on January 15, 2004.

Mr. Khurana, who flew in from Jaipur this morning, refused to answer any political question before or after tendering his resignation, stating that he would do so once he was relieved of his post.

"I have not slept for days together. I have been taking sleeping pills as the deteriorating situation in Delhi and the crisis affecting lakhs of people, including the poor, did not let me sleep in peace. The biggest mistake of my life was to leave Delhi that I did so reluctantly as a loyal soldier of the party. I was restless, sad and suffering in pain during all these months sitting in Raj Nivas," an emotional Mr. Khurana said at a crowded press conference at Jodhpur House.

A huge crowd had gathered to greet the "Delhi ka ladla" and his entry triggered bursting of crackers and slogan shouting.

Referring to himself as a "priest" and Delhi as "his temple" time and again, Mr. Khurana said he was happy to be back among his people, who been the source of his strength during the 44 years of political life. Stating that he did not hunger for any position or post in the Government or the party, he said he would take up the issue of closure of industries.

"The Sheila Dikshit Government has failed to effectively implement the plan for the relocation of industries. Nearly 1.25 lakh industrial units are being closed. Delhi has never let me down and I will not let down the people of Delhi," he said.

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