Industrialist Anil Ambani resigns from Rajya Sabha

New Delhi, Mar 25: Leading industrialist Anil Ambani today (Mar 25, 2006) resigned from the Rajya Sabha, saying he was doing so to uphold the highest standards of transparency, propriety and ethics in public life.

Mr Ambani, Chairman of the new Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Uttar Pradesh in June 2004.

Mr Ambani, who had joined the Uttar Pradesh Development Council (UPDC) in an honorary capacity in October 2003, will, however, continue to perform an advisory role in the council.

In a statement issued here soon after he tendered his resignation to Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Mr Ambani, an Independent member of the Upper House, said one must uphold the highest standard of transparency, propriety and ethics, and avoid any possibility of controversy, however remote or unlikely.

"Keeping this in mind, I have decided to tender my resignation from the Rajya Sabha with imemdiate effect," he said.

Mr Ambani said there had been no no suggestion that there was any issue in his continuing to be a member of the UPDC after being elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Dr Karan Singh and Dr Kapila Vatsayayan are the other two members of the Rajya Sabha who have resigned so far following the controversy over "Offices of Profit". Dr Karan Singh is the President of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) while Dr Vatsayayan is the President of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA).

UNI