Both Houses of Parliament witnessed a second day of pandemonium on Friday, with the BJP insisting home minister P. Chidam-baram be dismissed for allegedly helping a hotelier, who was once his client, to get FIRs against him
quashed. Adding to the din, Shiv Sena MPs in both Houses sought the dismissal of Karnataka’s BJP government for discriminating against Marathi-speaking people.
Not much business could be transacted in either House as the BJP trained its guns on the home minister for favouring the businessman. At a press conference, the embattled home minister said he was “deeply hurt” over the BJP’s “unfounded allegations”. He said these allegations were the “most ridiculous charges” ever levelled against him.
Mr Gopal K. Pillai, who retired as Union home secretary in June, also came to defend his former boss. He told the press conference: “I clearly remember the home minister had written in the file that the ministry should convey the law ministry’s advice to the Delhi government, and should not give any direction on the issue.”
On “conflict of interest”, Mr Chidambaram noted a lawyer appears in scores of cases. “Does he carry interest in all cases throughout his life?”