New Delhi:
The BJP today demanded that the Prime Minister fire P Chidambaram for his alleged complicity in the telecom scam.
Mr Chidambaram was Finance Minister in 2008 when A Raja, as Telecom Minister, handed valuable mobile network licences and accompanying second-generation (2G) spectrum to companies at clearance prices.
Mr Raja is currently in jail for the 2G scam. Dayanidhi Maran who was Telecom Minister before him resigned yesterday and also faces charges of corruption. Both men are from the DMK, a senior partner in the Congress-led coalition at the Centre.
"The 2G spectrum scandal is no longer only an 'ally affair'. The revelations in the JPC, which is looking into the scandal, and those coming out in the media show that there is a Congress overtone to this," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.
The JPC refers to the Joint Parliamentary Committee that's investigating the 2G scam. Various senior bureaucrats and telecom officials are testifying before it.
On January 10, 2008, Mr Raja allotted licenses to nine companies. The BJP believes that Mr Chidambaram should be held accountable for not pressuring Mr Raja to auction the licences.
"On January 9, 2008, an additional secretary in the Finance Ministry had clearly suggested adoption of the auction route for spectrum usage charges. On January 15, the Finance Minister sent a note to the PM that the government adopt the auction route for future spectrum allocations and treat all allocations made in the past as a closed chapter," the BJP spokesperson said, referring to what senior bureaucrats have testified in the last few days. "The cover-up began with this (Chidambaram) letter of January 15," she added, asking why Mr Chidambaram did not order an inquiry after Mr Raja ignored the advice for an auction.
The BJP has also objected to the fact that there are no minutes of a meeting on May 29 where Mr Chidambaram and Mr Raja reportedly discussed the processes followed by the latter while allocating licences. (
Read: Can't record minutes of all meetings with ministers, says Pranab)
"An attempt was made in that meeting by then Finance Minister to gloss over the divergent opinions, cover up the disregard to rules, regulations and procedures in the issue of licences by holding a meeting with the then Telecom Minister A Raja," Ms Sitharaman said.
"It is reported that the Prime Minister was informed of an 'agreed position' thereafter. A clear four months after the scandalous allocation of the 2G licences," Sitharaman said.
Chidambaram had no role in 2G issue: SibalComing to the defence of Home Minister P Chidambaram, the government today insisted that the former Telecom Minister had "no role anywhere" in the 2G spectrum allocation controversy and demands for his resignation were a "conspiracy" against him.
"The demand for Chidambaram's resignation is a conspiracy. Chidambaram had no role anywhere. Whatever and whenever decisions he took, he did so after consultations," Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters.
He was responding when asked BJP's contention that Chidambaram had a role in the 2G spectrum allocation and should resign.