Chidambaram had no role in 2G: Govt

“The demand for Chidambaram’s resignation is a conspiracy. Chidambaram had no role anywhere. Whatever decisions he took,he did so after consultations,” Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters here.

He was asked about the BJP’s contention that Chidambaram had a role in the 2G spectrum allocation and should resign.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal,who was also present,claimed that Chidambaram had never recommended to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that start-up spectrum should be treated as a “closed chapter” and there was some confusion regarding it.

“His comments were about additional spectrum charges,” he maintained.

On the minutes of the meeting between Chidambaram and Raja not being recorded,Bansal argued,“The meeting was not such where the situation warranted preparation of any minutes… The meeting was not required to record minutes.”

He said it was not a structured meeting like a Cabinet meeting or GOM where the minutes are prepared immediately after. “There are several occasions where two ministers meet even to discuss a specific issue but minutes are not made.”

About allegations that Dayanidhi Maran,during his tenure as Telecom Minister,had laid a telephone exchange between his residence and office of Sun TV which is owned by his brother Kalanidhi Maran,Sibal said the case is being investigated by the CBI.

“CBI is obviously looking into the matter,” he said.