New Delhi: Refusing to buy the argument that the remarks on P Chidambaram in the 2G note was the handiwork of a single officer, CPI(M) Friday demanded the resignation of the Home Minister alleging that it clearly showed that he gave the nod for a policy which led to a loss to the exchequer. "It is not the work of any single officer or ministry. Therefore, P Chidambaram has to take responsibility for his action. The Polit Bureau demands that he resign from the Union Cabinet," CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told reporters here after the Polit Bureau meeting.
The party Polit Bureau said the explanation provided by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee underlined the "authoritative nature" of the conclusions that have been drawn as the inter-ministerial note was prepared with inputs from various ministries and coordinated by the Cabinet Secretary.
The Finance Ministry note of March 25, 2011 had said that the 2G scam could have been avoided had Chidambaram, the then Finance Minister, insisted on auctioning of spectrum instead of giving it on 2001 prices.
Seeking to put an end to the controversy, Mukherjee yesterday clarified that the remarks against Chidambaram were not approved by him. The CPI(M) said the note forwarded by the Finance Ministry to the Prime Minister`s Office has clearly "delineated the role" played by Chidambaram at that time in going along with the policy and the implementation of it by the then Telecom Minister A Raja
PTI