My family has no link with any telecom company: Home Minister
The Union government on Monday denied any wrongdoing by P. Chidambaram in granting clearance to the Aircel-Maxis deal by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in 2006 when he was the Finance Minister.
Seeking to clear the air, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made statements in both Houses of Parliament, dismissing allegation of any delay in the deal to favour Mr. Chidambaram's family. He said there were two separate proposals, which processed in “normal course” without any delay.
“There is no scope for any misunderstanding and misinterpretation. In both cases there was no delay in granting the approval,” he said.
An investment was made by Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, Mauritius, to acquire 73.99 per cent equity in Aircel Ltd. on January 6, 2006. FIPB approval was granted to it on March 7, 2006 after the ministries and departments concerned took the “normal time” of 4-6 weeks to offer their comments. Another application was received on September 1, 2006 for downstream investment by Global Communications through Aircel Ltd. in Dishnet Wireless Ltd. and the final approval was granted on October 20, 2006, Mr. Mukherjee said.
Earlier, the Opposition, particularly the BJP and the AIADMK, created uproar in the Rajya Sabha while levelling allegations against Mr. Chidambaram's family.
Reacting to this, Mr. Chidambaram made an emotional speech, insisting that “no member of my family nor I have any equity at any time indirectly or directly or have any investment in any telecom company. We have no connection with any telecom company or have any share in any telecom company.”
He also downplayed the fresh charges that the e-mail and website address of Ausbridge and Advantage were the same in 2006, saying, “If they have the same website address, I am not aware. Even if they had a same website address, what is the relevance of that?”
As the Opposition refused to accept his argument that money transaction between the two companies was related to some consultancy service, he said he was ready for a probe.
Mr. Chidambaram said: “Nobody is saying that promoters of Advantage and Ausbridge do not know each other. Both are in Chennai and doing business; young people are entitled to start legitimate businesses.”
Not convinced with the reply, the Opposition disrupted the House again when it met after lunch, leading to two adjournments.
Seeking to link the controversial FIPB clearance to Aircel-Maxis with business transactions of Ausbridge, a company earlier co-owned by Mr. Chidambaram's son, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said the e-mail and web address of Ausbridge Holdings and Investments and Advantage Strategic Consulting, which was alleged to have invested in Aircel-Maxis, were the same in 2006.
As the Opposition refused to accept his argument that the money transaction between the two companies was related to some consultancy service, Mr. Chidambaram said: “If you want to look into the book of account of Advantage Consulting, I will certainly convey to the Finance Minister.”
He said he was happy that the issue was being raised by his friend of 22 years (Mr. Jaitley) and said: “... it would be much simpler if somebody took a dagger and plunged into my heart rather than questioning my integrity.”
Purity and fairness our concern, says Jaitley
But Mr. Jaitley retorted that “our concern is not to plunge a dagger in somebody's heart ... the purity and fairness of the government must be maintained.”
Mr. Chidambaram said Ausbridge was started with a capital of Rs. 2 lakh by two young persons, including his son, who had invested Rs. 1.8 lakh in it but later transferred his shares and the company was now owned by the first partner Rajesh and his wife.
Seeking to clarify that Advantage and Ausbridge had no connection in 2006, when the FIPB clearance was granted, he said Ausbridge made a passive investment of Rs. 5 lakh in Advantage only in March 2011.
“Ausbridge had no holding in Advantage in 2006, 2007 or 2008. This passive investment made in 2011 obviously has no connection” with the Aircel-Maxis deal that happened five years ago in 2006, Mr. Chidambaram said.
On allegations that Maxis had informed the stock exchange of another country that it owned almost 100 per cent in the Indian company, Mr. Chidambaram said: “According to records of the FIPB, they can hold and do hold 73.99 per cent in the Indian company.”
If there is any such provision, Supreme Court should order to put
Mr.Pranab also in jail along Mr.Chidambaram. Supporting corrupt people
should also be considered a crime.
Even I would go with k.b. Ganesan.... With no proofs, they are simply making wild and reckless allegations... defaming a quality politician who has come long way with his sincerity and is known for his integrity and honesty.... with the next elections nearing...the oppn has plunged into such cheap politics.... truth will always win..... and people are no fools not to discern such things
Erudition and Wisdom are poles apart. Chidambaram 's surgical
incisiveness as an administrator finds himself now floundering. His
integrity has become questionable. A beneficiary of Manmohan Singh,
Chidambaram owing to his being from a family of 'means and wealth'
coupled with literary acumen is a babe in the world of politics. He is
not suave and diplomatic used to interacting with the corporate who's
who as a legal practitioner. His arrogance and aloofness are the bane
of his current imbroglio. Manmohan - the benefactor - arose from
humble surroundings is a personae of modesty and humility; virtuous
characteristics that stand him in good stead in his political life.
Jaitley, a legal luminary, like Chidambaram but owing to his
background of a normal Indian is full of zest and has a cool
temperament befitting a politician. Chidambaram has miles to go if he
wishes to serve the Society. He may have the interests of the nation
at heart but unilateral arbitrariness have spelt his doom.
Watching the TV of the parliament discussions on the above,I really feel sorry for Mr. Chidambaram for the shoutings that went on& on.The joke of it was that only the previous day we celebrated 60 yrs of parliaments achievements. Neither am I related to Mr. Chdambaram nor I belonged to his community. He has had a long distinguished career as a senior minister & as a parlimentarian & comes from a rich family background & highly qualified Lawyer. Has the govt ever subject those who shout & make serious charges to the same harasment& loss of face, slander & ignominy when such charges are found not true? I have been in govt service over 33yrs & had to face such harassment particularly when you reach top positions.In my opinion those who make scurrilous attcks without basis / proof must be punished by imprisonment & should be debarred from public life for ever in order to uphold honest service to the country in any form.
Our constitution is so weak – Politicians are shameless in general; but in India they are also thick skinned. There are many un-answered questions on Mr.Chidambaram's involvement in 2G scam. So till he is cleared of it, it would be good for him to STEP DOWN. Mr.Chidambaram should respect our democracy – "Of the People, By the People & For the People" – Further I can't understand how Mr.Mukerjee can defend Mr.Chidambaram. Is Mr.Mukerjee part of Mr.Chidambaram's family? I only pity Indian People (myself included) to see what sort of Politicians we have elected – who bend before us for their Vote and BEND/SQUEZE us after being elected
“... it would be much simpler if somebody took a dagger and plunged into my heart rather than questioning my integrity.”
I do not understand whether i should laugh or cry at this statement. Laugh for such cheesy lines when every one knows,what the truth is, or cry over the misfortune that i am ruled by such leaders in this nation.
one does not understand how pranab can defend chidambaram in this
wany.The issue is whether any of Chidambaram's family members including
his son derived indirectly any benefits or not out of this
deal.Politicians surely know how to deflect an issue.
BJP these days finds every issue to disrupt sessions. if bjp has such genuine proofs why dont it file any case. they case doesnt seem to be genuine and they are disrupting the sessions just to keep away from any good things coming out which in turn may favour bjp. but people of the nation are watching , backdoor politics has never worked
If Chidambaram's integrity can not be question in the shody dealings, so is YSR-Jagan's integrity. All are innocents, no one should dare to question them.
And Pranabda would like to defend his coalition partner Chiranjeevi due to his dharma of coalition, that the busted money in Chennai of 35 crores neatly packed in cartons of one crore each does not belong to Chiru. Somebody had accepted that it was their unaccounted money. IF this person was having this much of unaccounted money, I am sure that this person who accepted responsibility has a lot more cash rolling without any purview of the IT department. The person who is taking responsibity for 35 crores in unaccounted cash must also explain how tax was evaded, and for how much period of time and where it was intended to go..There is a lot of questions, which has just started. If same measuring stick used for Jagan Mohan Reddy should be used for Chiru's relatives as well, or will the Govt hush it up because he is a coalition partner?
Dear Mr. PC, the people of India want you to resign. Then prove the current allegations as untrue and then get your ministerial berth again. Apollo got 24% of the deal for 34 crores and maxis got 73% for 5000 crore. It is high time that we extradite Mr. Anandakrihnan from Malaysia for CBI questioning, or will this also be let loose like Quatrocchi. People of India need to wake up now. Pranabda, we would like to look inot the books of Ausbridge and Advantage and Rajesh and his wife as well. You just can't hide a watermelon inside your plate of rice like the saying goes!
If Ministers has to resign for every complaint which does not substantiate the allegation adequately, there will be no ministers and no government to govern the natiion. Because any minsiter can be alleged of misconduct by anyone at any time.
This article is poorly written. References to names were made even
before they were introduced such as Ausbridge and Advantage. The
article is confusing and doesn't align with a streamlined line of
thought.
All thieves are ganged together. The whole UPA is murked in corruption. PM dont know bribe paid to MPs for support during no confidence motion. A corrupt CVC was selected by PM and Chidambaram even after the third member of BJP opposed. In the early days of 2G they say no corruption and it is fair. What a white lie!!!!
Why Chidambaram has to be there in each and every scandals and scams. His place is beside his friend Raja, not in the cabinet.
Chidambam lost his face and charisma. No purity and fairness of the current government.
When the person in power is the perpetrator of the corrupt deals, where will justice be served. It is obvious to everyone in the country that CBI is remote controlled by Chidambaram. How can he investigate himself and punish himself. Thus there is a need for strong LOKPAL. Jai ANNA Hazare
o yes. i just saw the pigs flying. O! Congress government, we will believe in anything you
say.
The CBI will probe its own Minister? No wonder Chiddu is ready for a
probe.
A judicial probe would be suitable. A CBI probe would be a waste of
public money to give a foregone conclusion a shade of legitimacy.
There no iota of doubt that something is wrong. And now god knows why pranab getting involved into the dirt. everyone knows that there is no proper investigation done into all the crimes of PC as he commands the CBI itself and they cannot displease their boss. PC should resign and independent inquiry set up.
Till Chidambaram is cleared on the cases on 2G, he should resign. The
CBI is also indirectly under Home Ministry control and that could come
in the way of objective scrutiny if he continues.
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