Uttar Pradesh minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiyya Thursday announced his resignation shortly after the Supreme Court quashed the state government order withdrawing Prevention of Terrorism Act charges against him.
The controversial independent legislator from Kunda in Pratapgarh district told reporters that he would submit his resignation to Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as soon as the latter returned from his election campaign in Bihar.
"I have no guilty conscience. I have done nothing wrong. There may some people in the ministry who may be unhappy with my style of functioning. It is only imperative that I should resign," he said.
The Supreme Court Thursday quashed the Uttar Pradesh government order withdrawing POTA cases against Raja Bhaiyya and his relatives and also transferred them to Madhya Pradesh.
Raja Bhaiyya, who holds the food and civil supplies portfolio, said he had no "remorse" nor any ill-feeling. "It is God's will that there are ups and downs in my life."
He said that he had not yet seen the full text of the apex court judgement and was apprised of the development only through the media.
"I respect the Supreme Court order. I shall consult my lawyers and act accordingly," Raja Bhaiyya said adding, that he would surrender before the designated POTA court in Kanpur within a week.
He, however, denied that the decision to withdraw POTA charges against him and his relatives had been taken by the Mulayam Singh government.
"The decision to withdraw POTA against me had been taken by the POTA Review Committee," he said.