BJP seeks resignation of Chidambaram, Maran

BJP on Thursday rejected Home Minister P Chidambaram`s "self-certified" non-involvement in the 2G spectrum case and maintained that he should resign from the Union Cabinet.

New Delhi: BJP on Thursday rejected Home
Minister P Chidambaram`s "self-certified" non-involvement in
the 2G spectrum case and maintained that he should resign from
the Union Cabinet.

The party also demanded the resignation of Textiles
Minister Dayanidhi Maran over allegations of a quid quo pro in
allocating spectrum to Aircel.

The BJP also brushed aside the explanation and defence
made by Chidambaram that it was not former Telecom Minister A
Raja, who had told corporate lobbyist Niira Radia of the
alleged pay-offs made to him, but RIL group employee K
R Raja.

Addressing a news conference here today, BJP national
spokesman Prakash Javadekar said "this is not a case of
ignorance or innocence, but a classic case of complicity".

Javadekar also said that "contemporaneous evidence is
always stronger and credible than subsequent self-serving
denials", and negated Chidambaram`s denial on the basis of
an apology tendered by RIL group president V Balasubramanian
to him.

He said after initially opposing the allotment of 2G spectrum at 2001-rates, Chidambaram as Finance Minister
had put his stamp of approval on the 2G spectrum allocations
made by then Telecom Minister A Raja.

Chidambaram owed the nation an explanation to the
nation on his "sudden change of stand" on the 2G spectrum
allocations, he said.

"We stand by our demand for the resignation of P
Chidambaram," the BJP leader said.

"Chidambaram had been till December 2007, through his
notings and letters, insisting that the 2G spectrum should not
be sold in 2008 at the rates prevailing in 2001 and instead be
auctioned. Later, he suddenly changed his stand in a letter of
January 15, 2008, where he mentioned that the method of
auction be adopted in future."

By doing so, Javadekar said, Chidambaram had actually
put his stamp of approval on the allotments of A Raja on
January 11, 2008, by which 2G Spectrum was sold at the 2001
rates, thus causing a loss to the exchequer of Rs 1,76,000
crores.

"Instead of basing his defence on such flimsy
apologies, Chidambaram should answer our straight question on
why he changed his stand on the pricing of 2G spectrum and
explain the deal for his sudden change of heart on the issue,"
said the BJP spokesman, adding that the nation wanted to know
who the real culprits of the 2G scam were.

He maintained that the nation had suffered a huge loss
and had the right to know was responsible for it.

PTI

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