Beigh quits Cabinet

Three days after his People's Democratic Party demanded his ouster, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Beigh today resigned from the council of ministers.

Beigh called on Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence here this evening and put up his papers. In the brief resignation letter, Beigh said, "I am grateful to you for the trust and confidence you reposed in me during our association in the council of ministers."

"I have taken this decision for three reasons, first, since my party has withdrawn me as a nominee, it would be morally and politically wrong for me to wish to remain a minister. Secondly, it is only right that the issue of my remaining a minister should not become a matter of conflict between the coalition partners (Congress-PDP). It is my duty to ensure that," Beigh said in the letter.