Washington: Amid a raging controversy over his ministry's note to the PMO on the 2G scam, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has cut short his visit in Washington and is rushing to New York to meet the Prime Minister.
The Finance Ministry's note written in March this year questions P Chidambaram's actions when the telecom scam was playing out in 2008. It suggests that Mr Chidambaram, who was then Finance Minister, should 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.
In order to accommodate his unscheduled meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Mukherjee's departure from Washington has been advanced by a few hours. According to the original schedule, the Finance Minister was to reach New York on Sunday afternoon, a few hours before catching his Air India flight to India. He will now be returning to New York late on Saturday night.
According to sources, it was Mr Mukherjee who asked for the meeting to be held in New York. The PM, sources say, wanted to discuss the matter once they reached India.
Mr Mukherjee is in Washington to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. A Finance Ministry spokesman told PTI, "Mr Mukherjee will fulfill all his engagements in Washington. He will meet the Prime Minister in New York on Sunday."
Sources told PTI that Mr Mukherjee is heading to New York to meet the Prime Minister for "obvious" reasons.
The development takes place a day after the Prime Minister said he fully backed Mr Chidambaram who "continues to enjoy and inspire my full confidence".
Asked whether there was any rift between his two top ministers, Dr Singh said there was no infighting. The Prime Minister spoke to Mr Chidambaram on the issue from Frankfurt.
Mr Mukherjee had also spoken to the Home Minister on Thursday.
Dr Singh is in New York to attend the 66th session of the UN General Assembly and is scheduled to address the world body today.
The meeting between Singh and Mr Mukherjee is expected to take place after the Prime Minister's address to the General Assembly. (With PTI Inputs)
The Finance Ministry's note written in March this year questions P Chidambaram's actions when the telecom scam was playing out in 2008. It suggests that Mr Chidambaram, who was then Finance Minister, should 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.
In order to accommodate his unscheduled meeting with the Prime Minister, Mr Mukherjee's departure from Washington has been advanced by a few hours. According to the original schedule, the Finance Minister was to reach New York on Sunday afternoon, a few hours before catching his Air India flight to India. He will now be returning to New York late on Saturday night.
According to sources, it was Mr Mukherjee who asked for the meeting to be held in New York. The PM, sources say, wanted to discuss the matter once they reached India.
Mr Mukherjee is in Washington to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. A Finance Ministry spokesman told PTI, "Mr Mukherjee will fulfill all his engagements in Washington. He will meet the Prime Minister in New York on Sunday."
Sources told PTI that Mr Mukherjee is heading to New York to meet the Prime Minister for "obvious" reasons.
The development takes place a day after the Prime Minister said he fully backed Mr Chidambaram who "continues to enjoy and inspire my full confidence".
Asked whether there was any rift between his two top ministers, Dr Singh said there was no infighting. The Prime Minister spoke to Mr Chidambaram on the issue from Frankfurt.
Mr Mukherjee had also spoken to the Home Minister on Thursday.
Dr Singh is in New York to attend the 66th session of the UN General Assembly and is scheduled to address the world body today.
The meeting between Singh and Mr Mukherjee is expected to take place after the Prime Minister's address to the General Assembly. (With PTI Inputs)
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