New Delhi: Home Minister P Chidambaram drove up to 10 Janpath for a short meeting with the Congress president on Monday evening and there were reports that he had offered to resign. A little later, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee too met the party president at her residence. Sonia Gandhi has stepped in to play peacemaker between two of the UPA government's topmost ministers.
The two are caught in a raging controversy over a note sent by Mr Mukherjee's Finance Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office on the 2G spectrum scam in March this year. The note questions Mr Chidambaram's actions when the telecom scam was playing out in 2008 - it suggests that Mr Chidambaram, who was then Finance Minister, could have done more to ensure that spectrum was not given at throwaway rates to companies that were being favoured by A Raja, who was then Telecom Minister and is now in jail.
Before leaving his North Block office for 10 Janpath this evening, Mr Mukherjee studied the 2G note. He then stepped out to praise his Cabinet colleague, saying, "Chidambaram is a valued colleague...a pillar of strength for party and government."
In fact, the Home Minister got tacit support from unexpected quarters when DMK chief Karunanidhi said he "won't support any move to unseat any union minister from Tamil Nadu."
The controversial 2G note was presented in the Supreme Court last week, triggering reports of a rift between the government's two senior-most ministers and quickly became a major embarrassment for the Manmohan Singh government. Both Mr Mukherjee and the Prime Minister were out of the country then. Mr Mukherjee returned today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be back only tomorrow morning.
Both Mr Chidambaram and Mrs Gandhi have been in the capital over the last few days, but the Congress president met him only today, once Mr Mukherjee was back from his visit to the US. Sources said after the individual meetings with the warring ministers, Mrs Gandhi could call a meeting with both of them and the Prime Minister present. Dr Singh too has been in the US for the past few days to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The Congress is attempting to knit together a twin strategy on the issue - one part is to back Mr Chidambaram to the hilt and minister after Congress minister is doing that. The other is to distance Mr Mukherjee from the controversial note. Law Minister Salman Khursheed said today that it was drafted by a lower official of the Finance Ministry and that the minister had little to do with it. He tried to play down the controversy as one of the media's making. He met Mr Mukherjee at the latter's residence.
Monday's fast-paced political developments came on a day when A.Raja told the court hearing the 2G case that Mr Chidambaram was privy to all the documents relating to 2G spectrum allocation. Mr Raja said he was not calling Mr Chidambaram an accused, but that he should be called as a witness. The CBI, meanwhile, has sought tougher charges against Mr Raja, which, if proved, could see him get a life term.
In Delhi, Mr Chidambaram has steadfastly refused to comment on the note controversy till the Prime Minister is back. Abroad, Mr Mukherjee did the same. The PM backed both his ministers; he reportedly spoke on the phone to an upset Mr Chidambaram from Frankfurt on his way to the US last week, asking him not to act in haste and assuring him of his full confidence. He did the same publically when addressing mediapersons and rubbished reports of a rift in his government.
Mr Mukherjee, on his arrival at the Delhi airport today, said that he would hold a full-fledged press conference over the matter once the PM was back. Yesterday, in New York, Mr Mukherjee had refused to speak on the note saying that the matter was sub-judice. "I cannot comment till I have spoken to Mr Chidambaram, who is a valued colleague," he said then, adding he was "not here to satisfy (your) infinite inquisitiveness."
His comments came after his meeting with the PM in New York on Sunday. It was the first meeting between the two after the controversy over the 2G note broke out. According to media reports, the minister cut short his visit in Washington DC to meet the PM. But Mr Mukherjee denied the reports saying, "No engagement was cancelled in Washington DC." Mr Mukherjee said he took the opportunity to wish Dr Singh, who turns 79 today. "Normally I am not good at these dates and I miss. But helpfully my staff told me about it so I took a bouquet of flowers."
Mr Mukherjee, who seems to be in damage-control mode, is also expected to meet Mr Khursheed. "I am not a lawyer, so I will have to seek proper legal opinion before commenting on the issue," he had said yesterday.
Mr Khursheed, seeking to downplay the controversial 2G note, said, "There is nothing in that document that should preoccupy you." Responding to questions on the PM having a tough birthday in light of the huge political storm over the note, Mr Khursheed said, " The PM has a steel grip with silken gloves...we will provide good governance for the next two-and-a-half years."
Earlier, the Law Minister had also denied reports of a rift within the government and said there was no question of Mr Chidambaram resigning. "I am authorised to say this. There is no war within. We are a lively group of people. Sometimes we may disagree. But ultimately when Prime Minister and the Cabinet takes a decision, then we go by that," Mr Khursheed told reporters in New Delhi on Sunday.
The Opposition sees less lively debate, more political opportunity. It is now resolutely gunning for Mr Chidambaram
The two are caught in a raging controversy over a note sent by Mr Mukherjee's Finance Ministry to the Prime Minister's Office on the 2G spectrum scam in March this year. The note questions Mr Chidambaram's actions when the telecom scam was playing out in 2008 - it suggests that Mr Chidambaram, who was then Finance Minister, could have done more to ensure that spectrum was not given at throwaway rates to companies that were being favoured by A Raja, who was then Telecom Minister and is now in jail.
Before leaving his North Block office for 10 Janpath this evening, Mr Mukherjee studied the 2G note. He then stepped out to praise his Cabinet colleague, saying, "Chidambaram is a valued colleague...a pillar of strength for party and government."
In fact, the Home Minister got tacit support from unexpected quarters when DMK chief Karunanidhi said he "won't support any move to unseat any union minister from Tamil Nadu."
The controversial 2G note was presented in the Supreme Court last week, triggering reports of a rift between the government's two senior-most ministers and quickly became a major embarrassment for the Manmohan Singh government. Both Mr Mukherjee and the Prime Minister were out of the country then. Mr Mukherjee returned today, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be back only tomorrow morning.
Both Mr Chidambaram and Mrs Gandhi have been in the capital over the last few days, but the Congress president met him only today, once Mr Mukherjee was back from his visit to the US. Sources said after the individual meetings with the warring ministers, Mrs Gandhi could call a meeting with both of them and the Prime Minister present. Dr Singh too has been in the US for the past few days to address the United Nations General Assembly.
The Congress is attempting to knit together a twin strategy on the issue - one part is to back Mr Chidambaram to the hilt and minister after Congress minister is doing that. The other is to distance Mr Mukherjee from the controversial note. Law Minister Salman Khursheed said today that it was drafted by a lower official of the Finance Ministry and that the minister had little to do with it. He tried to play down the controversy as one of the media's making. He met Mr Mukherjee at the latter's residence.
Monday's fast-paced political developments came on a day when A.Raja told the court hearing the 2G case that Mr Chidambaram was privy to all the documents relating to 2G spectrum allocation. Mr Raja said he was not calling Mr Chidambaram an accused, but that he should be called as a witness. The CBI, meanwhile, has sought tougher charges against Mr Raja, which, if proved, could see him get a life term.
In Delhi, Mr Chidambaram has steadfastly refused to comment on the note controversy till the Prime Minister is back. Abroad, Mr Mukherjee did the same. The PM backed both his ministers; he reportedly spoke on the phone to an upset Mr Chidambaram from Frankfurt on his way to the US last week, asking him not to act in haste and assuring him of his full confidence. He did the same publically when addressing mediapersons and rubbished reports of a rift in his government.
Mr Mukherjee, on his arrival at the Delhi airport today, said that he would hold a full-fledged press conference over the matter once the PM was back. Yesterday, in New York, Mr Mukherjee had refused to speak on the note saying that the matter was sub-judice. "I cannot comment till I have spoken to Mr Chidambaram, who is a valued colleague," he said then, adding he was "not here to satisfy (your) infinite inquisitiveness."
His comments came after his meeting with the PM in New York on Sunday. It was the first meeting between the two after the controversy over the 2G note broke out. According to media reports, the minister cut short his visit in Washington DC to meet the PM. But Mr Mukherjee denied the reports saying, "No engagement was cancelled in Washington DC." Mr Mukherjee said he took the opportunity to wish Dr Singh, who turns 79 today. "Normally I am not good at these dates and I miss. But helpfully my staff told me about it so I took a bouquet of flowers."
Mr Mukherjee, who seems to be in damage-control mode, is also expected to meet Mr Khursheed. "I am not a lawyer, so I will have to seek proper legal opinion before commenting on the issue," he had said yesterday.
Mr Khursheed, seeking to downplay the controversial 2G note, said, "There is nothing in that document that should preoccupy you." Responding to questions on the PM having a tough birthday in light of the huge political storm over the note, Mr Khursheed said, " The PM has a steel grip with silken gloves...we will provide good governance for the next two-and-a-half years."
Earlier, the Law Minister had also denied reports of a rift within the government and said there was no question of Mr Chidambaram resigning. "I am authorised to say this. There is no war within. We are a lively group of people. Sometimes we may disagree. But ultimately when Prime Minister and the Cabinet takes a decision, then we go by that," Mr Khursheed told reporters in New Delhi on Sunday.
The Opposition sees less lively debate, more political opportunity. It is now resolutely gunning for Mr Chidambaram
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