 "HRD Minister Pallam Raju resigns from Cabinet over Telangana issue")
Union Minister for Human Resource Development MM Pallam Raju today resigned from the cabinet, expressing displeasure at the hasty decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Thursday, the cabinet had cleared the formation of Telangana, to be carved out from Andhra Pradesh.
Raju, who is from the Kakinada constituency of Andhra Pradesh took over as HRD minister from Kapil Sibal in October 2012 and has played a crucial part in the skilling initiative of the ministry. According to reports, Raju said that it was a sad day for Andhra Pradesh and that the cabinet should not have taken the decision in such a manner.
He and few other ministers had earlier expressed concerns about the division of the state into two parts, saying that it would be harmful for the state and its people. Union Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi also quit in protest against the cabinet decision.
Meanwhile, the issue of the state's bifurcation had led to series of protests in Andhra Pradesh. The Seemandhara region is observing with a 72-hour bandh.