'Tainted' Orissa minister resigns

Orissa's Women and Child Development Minister Pramila Mallik has resigned following reports that she is facing a non-bailable warrant. The issue came to light on Saturday when papers carried reports about the warrant.

Mallik is a member of the Biju Janata Dal, which is ruling the state in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party, and represents Binjharpur in the state assembly.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said the minister submitted her resignation to him on Monday morning. He has forwarded the same to Governor M M Rajendran.

Mallick had gheraoed the office of the Block Development Officer at Binjharpur in 1999, when she was a Zilla Parishad member, along with her supporters. A criminal case was registered against her for 'misbehaviour' and ransacking of the office.

Also Read Congress targets 'tainted' Orissa minister

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has been relentlessly demanding that the ruling United Progressive Allaince at the Centre drop 'tainted ministers', referring to those who are facing charge sheets in various cases.

In this connection, Shibu Soren had to resign from the Union Council of Ministers after a court in Jharkhand issued a non-bailable arrest warrant in connection with the 1975 killing of 11 persons in Chirrudih, Jamtara district.