Reports of ministers quitting govt juvenile: Ramesh

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Wednesday attacked the media for reporting that he had offered to quit the government and work for the party, calling it "juvenile" and refusing to answer any political questions.

"No political questions...the most juvenile media, I have ever come across," a visibly angry Ramesh told the media at the beginning of a press conference convened to release the Wasteland Atlas of India in New Delhi.

The media was abuzz yesterday with reports that at least four ministers -- Ramesh, Law Minister Salman Khurshid, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi -- had written to Congress President Sonia Gandhi informing her of their intention to quit the government and work for the organisation.

 Dismissing media reports suggesting that he had written such a letter, he said these are "not worth commenting on".

The Congress also rejected reports that some of its ministers had offered to quit their posts and work for the party. Ravi also denied having written any such letter.