Assam rebel minister Himanta Biswa Sarma quits

Guwahati, July 21:

Health and Education Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is believed to be leading a group of dissident

MLAs, on Monday resigned from the cabinet.

He submitted his resignation to Governor Janaki Ballabh Patnaik.

After tendering his resignation, Sarma told reporters that he would continue to oppose the state government's anti-people policies within and outside the legislature.

Dissident Congress MLAs met the state Governor on Monday and expressed their displeasure over the Gogoi government. Some MLAs even met the Assembly Speaker regarding the same.

The MLAs have been mounting pressure on Assam's Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to step down.The MLAs had threatened that they would quit if Gogoi didn't step down.

IANS