With the exit of DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran from the Cabinet, the Opposition has now trained its guns on P Chidambaram, Union home minister who was also Union finance minister. And while the Opposition guns the Congress appears to be going all out in support of its own.
The government on Friday deputed two heavyweights, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and telecom minister Kapil Sibal, to come to the defence of Chidambaram. Chidambaram has been criticised for not keeping records of his meetings with jailed former telecom minister A. Raja on the 2G pricing in 2008.
Responding to this allegation, Mukherjee said: “As finance minister we have to meet ministers almost daily... It is not possible to keep a record of the meetings or minutes of meetings because there is no need.”
Speaking to reporters on the scam, Sibal said, “The demand for Chidambaram’s resignation is a conspiracy. He had no role anywhere. Whatever and whenever decisions he took, he did so after consultations.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said Chidambaram never recommended to the Prime Minister that start-up spectrum be treated as a “closed chapter” and there was some confusion regarding it.
Meanwhile in another 2G related development, the Enforcement Directorate has slapped a Rs 7,000-crore penalty on Etisalat-DB for alleged FEMA violations.
According to the ED, Swan Telecom Pvt Ltd issued 44.73% shares to Dubai-based Etisalat and 5.27 % shares to Genex Exim on September 23, 2009.
The ED has charged Swan Telecom, with committing FEMA violations to the tune of Rs 3,608 crore. During investigation, the ED came across certain bank guarantees — provided overseas — which were considered to be violations of the FEMA.
