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Harin Pathak resigns, Bhatt may follow

Union Minister of State for Defence Harin Pathak resigned late on Saturday night from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Cabinet in the wake of an Ahmedabad court framing charges against him and Gujarat Minister Ashok Bhatt in connection with the murder of a police constable during the anti-reservation agitation in 1985.

Bhatt is also likely to tender his resignation shortly.

Pathak met Vajpayee late Saturday and submitted his resignation, party sources said.

He also conveyed to the prime minister that Bhatt would be submitting his resignation to Gujarat Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel.

Pathak decision comes in the wake of Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley's suggestion that Pathak be asked to resign. The opposition had mounted a strident campaign for the resignation of the two ministers, saying chargesheeted ministers cannot continue in government.

Sources close to the Minister said he sent in his resignation on "moral grounds."

Ashok Bhatt, a minister in the Gujarat government, who is also a co-accused in the case, is said to be planning to tender his resignation in Gandhinagar on Sunday.

Following the framing of charges in the court, the opposition, including the Congress, mounted a campaign demanding resignation of the two ministers.

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