Insisting that the finance ministry’s note to the Prime Minister’s Office on the 2G spectrum issue is the “factual recording” of happenings in the case, senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said the Congress is trying to find a “patchwork” solution to the “crisis” created by the note.
He said the Congress’ “infighting” does not answer who is responsible for the loss to the national exchequer.
Meanwhile, taking offence to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s contention that opposition is raking up Mr Chidambaram’s name in the 2G issue as it wants early elections, the BJP said the PM’s comments are akin to making a mockery of the whole issue. Both the Leaders of the Opposition will come out with a “structured response” to the PM’s comments on Wednesday.
Sources said BJP members in the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on Tuesday met BJP Parliamentary Party chairman L.K. Advani at his residence. Both Leaders of the Opposition were also present in this meeting to chalk out the party’s strategy on the 2G issue.
Questioning home minister P. Chidambaram’s silence on his role in 2G spectrum allocation, Mr Jaitley said: “He has a lot to answer on the issue which has caused revenue loss to the nation.” While interacting with women journalists, Mr Jaitley alleged Mr Chidambaram changed his position on the allocation of 2G spectrum and demanded answers as to why he did it.
“The issues it has thrown up is not an internal matter of the Congress... It would be better if the Congress answers the questions raised on the contents of the document, namely that loss has been caused to public revenue by allotting spectrum in 2008 at the 2001 prices.”
Mr Jaitley said.
He also alleged that the CBI was “bending backwards” on the role of Mr Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum allocation case.