PM, Sonia expected to meet today

Sep 28, 2011 |

New Delhi

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi are expected to meet today in the backdrop of the controversy over a Finance Ministry note on the 2G spectrum issue which has led the Opposition to demand the resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram.

While no meeting has been fixed so far between the two leaders, sources said that there is a possibility that they may meet.

This will be the first meeting between Singh and Gandhi after the Finance Ministry note controversy broke out.

The Prime Minister had last night accused certain "forces" of trying to destabilise polity and said that a "restless Opposition" was attempting to force early elections.

He had told journalists travelling with him on board Air India One from New York back home, "This is not the way.
This government has the mandate for five years. It will stay its course and we will do so".

Speaking in the backdrop of perceived differences between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chidambaram, Singh had maintained that he was not aware of any "ministerial fight" being talked about in the media.

His comments came at a time when he is seeking to put an end to the controversy triggered by the Finance Ministry note which suggested that Chidambaram as Finance Minister in 2008 should have insisted on auctioning of 2G spectrum, a failure which led to the scam.

Asked whether he would give a clean chit to Chidambaram, he said that he enjoyed "my full confidence as Finance Minister, he continues to enjoy my full confidence as Home Minister and that applies to Mr (Pranab) Mukherjee as well."

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