Click to play videoNew Delhi: Under fire from the BJP for his alleged role of asking for dilution of cases against hotelier SP Gupta, Home Minister P Chidambaram is getting into damage control mode himself, giving a clear idea of the entire sequence of events.
Chidambaram claimed that the first representation from SP Gupta came in July 2004. Home Secretary then sought advice from the Law Ministry. Chidambaram said that in his note he wrote to not give directions and that it was a director who on his own prepared a draft asking for withdrawal of prosecution without getting it cleared from his superiors.
The Home Minister described the charges as 'most ridiculous'. Chidambaram said he saw the file on request by hotelier SP Gupta to withdraw prosecution only once.
He added he had made it clear in his note that no directions should be given. He said the draft to drop prosecution was prepared by the director, who didn't get it cleared by his superiors.
"The confidential draft was prepared by the director who didn't show it to anyone and sent it on his own. I was clear that no directions should be given. Had I had a continuing interest, it would be conflict of interest. I have appeared in thousands of cases. I reject BJP's charge and I am deeply hurt," the Home Minister said. '
Chidambaram's defence is coming after two days of total paralysis in Parliament. The government already under fire on Lokpal came out in support of Chidambaram.
Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said, "We can only comment on what's legal or illegal, nothing beyond that. Only the court can demand clarifications from us. But in the interest of the general public, if the media demands answers, we have no problems in giving details."
The truth lies somewhere in between - What's in Chidambram's favour? He doesn't remember who the industrialist SP gupta was and why is the Opposition unwilling to accept that?
Was Gupta's plea to Ministry of Home Affairs one of the many routine pleas asking for dismissal of a civil dispute case?
Is the BJP gunning for Home Minister to deflect attention from the near conclusion of investigations in saffron terror cases?
Did Delhi government carry out due diligence following the Home Ministry's appeal for dismissing cases against Gupta.
But his detractors argue that Why was a private complaint in a private dispute being overseen by the home ministry and why does SP Gupta approach the home ministry only a day after Chidambaram takes over even though his dispute is a long pending one?
The other arguments are FIRs and chargesheets have been filed in the case by the Delhi police, the high court and supreme court refuse to quash them, so what was the basis of the home ministry recommendation?
BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said, "The Home Minister is clueless as to what he is speaking. He has a defence for himself. There have been uproar in both the Houses and his culpability is established. He is trying to steer himself clean but that is not going to happen, as he was a defendant of the case, at a given point of time."
BJP had made it clear that they would boycott P Chidambaram this session on his alleged role in the 2G scam. This expose has certainly given another ammunition to the opposition, forcing the government to come out in yet another defence of its Home Minister.
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