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BJP demands Chidambaram`s exit from UPA govt
Hours after the Madras HC declined to dismiss a petition challenging the election of P Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha in 2009, the main opposition BJP on Thursday demanded the Congress govt to sack him for his alleged malpractices.
Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: Hours after the Madras High Court declined to dismiss a petition challenging the election of P Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha in 2009, the main opposition BJP on Thursday renewed its attack on the Union Home Minister, saying he must quit.
"I appeal to the Prime Minister to remove him from Union Cabinet. He has no moral right to be on his post. He should have resigned much earlier," BJP president Nitin Gadkari said while speaking to reporters here.
Demanding the Congress government to immediately sack Chidambaram for his alleged malpractices, Gadkari said that the BJP also has documentary evidence against the Union Home Minister in the 2G scam.
“The honourable Madras High Court has find no merit in Chidambaram’s petition and ruled that he should face trial for alleged manipulation of votes and corrupt practices to win 2009 Lok Sabha election. After the court’s ruling it is clear that he is guilty of wrongdoing and therefore be sacked as Union Minister from UPA government,” he said.
Making a direct attack on the ruling Congress government at the centre, the BJP president said, “I want to ask why no action is being taken against P Chidambaram. Why Congress leadership is mum on the issue? Why is he not being expelled from the Union Cabinet?”
He also accused the Congress leadership of trying to protect him by keeping silent on the charges of corruption levelled against him.”
The BJP chief also reminded Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of her promise to show zero tolerance towards corruption and corrupt people.
"Why is Sonia Gandhi protecting him? Why is the Congress tolerating his corruption? Sonia ji had said she will not tolerate corruption. I want to remind her about this. The country wants an explanation," Gadkari told newsmen. The sharp reactions from the BJP president came hours after the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court said that Chidambaram will face trial in the case related to the alleged rigging of 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Disposing of a plea by Chidambaram seeking dismissal of the petition filed by AIADMK`s Raja Kannappan, who lost to him from Sivaganga constituency by a narrow margin of 3,354 votes, Justice K Venkatraman of the Madurai Bench of the High Court ordered removal of two of the 29 charges.
The two charges pertained to alleged use of bank officials and banks in connection with Chidambaram`s election.
The court, however, held that Chidambaram should face the case in respect of the other 27 charges. Kannappan, in his petition filed on June 25, 2009, had alleged that Chidambaram`s election `deserved` to be declared void due to `manipulation` of votes and `corrupt practices` committed by him, his election agents and others, with his consent.
He had also sought recount of the votes polled in the entire constituency, particularly in the Alangudi Assembly segment.
With PTI Input
New Delhi: Hours after the Madras High Court declined to dismiss a petition challenging the election of P Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha in 2009, the main opposition BJP on Thursday renewed its attack on the Union Home Minister, saying he must quit.
"I appeal to the Prime Minister to remove him from Union Cabinet. He has no moral right to be on his post. He should have resigned much earlier," BJP president Nitin Gadkari said while speaking to reporters here.
Demanding the Congress government to immediately sack Chidambaram for his alleged malpractices, Gadkari said that the BJP also has documentary evidence against the Union Home Minister in the 2G scam.
“The honourable Madras High Court has find no merit in Chidambaram’s petition and ruled that he should face trial for alleged manipulation of votes and corrupt practices to win 2009 Lok Sabha election. After the court’s ruling it is clear that he is guilty of wrongdoing and therefore be sacked as Union Minister from UPA government,” he said.
Making a direct attack on the ruling Congress government at the centre, the BJP president said, “I want to ask why no action is being taken against P Chidambaram. Why Congress leadership is mum on the issue? Why is he not being expelled from the Union Cabinet?”
He also accused the Congress leadership of trying to protect him by keeping silent on the charges of corruption levelled against him.”
The BJP chief also reminded Congress chief Sonia Gandhi of her promise to show zero tolerance towards corruption and corrupt people.
"Why is Sonia Gandhi protecting him? Why is the Congress tolerating his corruption? Sonia ji had said she will not tolerate corruption. I want to remind her about this. The country wants an explanation," Gadkari told newsmen. The sharp reactions from the BJP president came hours after the Madurai bench of the Madras High Court said that Chidambaram will face trial in the case related to the alleged rigging of 2009 Lok Sabha polls.
Disposing of a plea by Chidambaram seeking dismissal of the petition filed by AIADMK`s Raja Kannappan, who lost to him from Sivaganga constituency by a narrow margin of 3,354 votes, Justice K Venkatraman of the Madurai Bench of the High Court ordered removal of two of the 29 charges.
The two charges pertained to alleged use of bank officials and banks in connection with Chidambaram`s election.
The court, however, held that Chidambaram should face the case in respect of the other 27 charges. Kannappan, in his petition filed on June 25, 2009, had alleged that Chidambaram`s election `deserved` to be declared void due to `manipulation` of votes and `corrupt practices` committed by him, his election agents and others, with his consent.
He had also sought recount of the votes polled in the entire constituency, particularly in the Alangudi Assembly segment.
With PTI Input