The Opposition, including the BJP, Left and AIADMK have called for the immediate resignation of Mr P. Chidambaram, the Union Home Minister.
The political storm rose after a Finance Ministry document was submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday by Janata Party leader Mr Subramanian Swamy as `proof’ of the then Finance Minister’s (and current Home Minister) role in the 2G spectrum auction.
The BJP said the Finance Ministry note showed the “complicity” of Mr Chidambaram and also alleged that not only UPA allies but the Congress was also involved in it. Senior party leader Mr Murli Manhoar Joshi, who also headed the Public Accounts Committee that probed the 2G scam, said Mr Chidambaram “should be dismissed forthwith.”
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms J Jayalalithaa, demanded that the Home Minister resign in the wake of the Finance Ministry’s note or the Prime Minister drop him from the Cabinet. “It is quite clear that Chidambaram is deeply involved in the 2G spectrum scam…The CBI should proceed against Chidambaram, as they did against A Raja...”, she said.
DMK supremo, Mr M Karunanidhi, said it was up to the Home Minister to decide on quitting if found guilty. “I don’t have any details and therefore I don’t want to comment.... (but) if he was found guilty it is up to him to decide on resigning,” he said, and added that his party’s alliance with Congress would continue at Centre.
The CPI and CPI(M) also demanded that Mr Chidambaram’s role as the then Finance Minister needed to be examined and questioned.
The Congress, in the absence of the Prime Minister and Finance Minister, both of whom are abroad, sprang to the Home Minister’s defence. Lashing out at the BJP, party spokesperson, Ms Renuka Chowdhary, said “BJP is jumping to conclusions.”
Meanwhile, there were agency reports that the Home Minister had assured the Prime Minister there would be no public statements from Mr Chidambaram on the issue till Dr Manmohan Singh returns to India.
The Prime Minister is currently in the United States and is expected to return early next week.