Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan quits the Congress party on Friday, blaming party vice-president Rahul Gandhi for making her scapegoat in cases related to environmental clearance to some projects during her regime as Minister for Environment.

She said “I did nothing wrong. Specific inputs were received from his office based on the representation by NGOs raising environment concerns on certain large projects. But, later, I was humiliated and sidelined by the party high command. I quit my post under severe frustration and agony. Although, I was averse to criticize Narendra Modi on snoop gate affair, I was pressurized by the party leadership to do so. My health was also badly affected due to these pressures and humiliating treatment meted out to me.”

“My family had been serving the Congress party since its inception. I am the fourth generation from my family. So, it gives me very pain to depart from it, but I realized that no longer I can continue in the party after facing so many bitter experiences from the high command. I need to save the legacy of my family otherwise my children and my future generations will not forgive me."

“I have no plans to join any other party after facing such bitter experiences in the Congress party. I am very much thankful to the Congress party for whatever opportunities were given to me all these years to serve the nation and the party.”