The BJP on Saturday alleged that it has now been “proved beyond doubt” that home minister P. Chidambaram, who was the then finance minister, had connived with former communication minister A. Raja in the 2G spectrum allocation scam and the cover-up exercise that followed was done after taking the former into confidence. Stepping up its demand for Mr Chidambaram’s removal from the Union Cabinet, BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay said, “Chidambaram is as much responsible and culpable for this scam as Raja. His place is not where he is today, but where Raja is today.”
Mr Vijay claimed to have a copy of the letter written by Raja to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on November 7, 2008, in which the former has reportedly stated that he was acting on the advice of Mr Chidambaram.
“Raja acted on Chidambaram’s advice like a nursery-class student. Later as an obedient student, he informed the Prime Minister about the whole thing,” Mr Vijay said.
He alleged that these ministers have “looted the wealth” of the country when they were given the mandate to protect its interest.
Meanwhile, the party also accused Mr Kapil Sibal of misusing his Cabinet position after a PIL said he favoured a penalty waiver to Reliance Communications. Attacking the telecom minister, Mr Vijay said, “This whole government has become a shield to the looters of India who are enjoying all the perks in the Cabinet. Sibal, who is an expert in making illogical arguments, has called the PIL on penalty waiver from `50 crores to `5 crores as malicious, motivated and defamatory. He has insulted the courts.” The party insisted that Mr Sibal’s charge of this PIL being aimed at settling “personal scores.”