FM claims Jain panel cannot record adversely against him

"It is unfortunate that the distinction has escaped the Jain commission of inquiry," he said in a rejoinder to the English Weekly ndia Today which had published extracts purportedly of the jain commission report on Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination. Copies of the rejoinder were released to the Press today.

Chidambaram said he was called as a witness by the commission and he was not a noticee. "Hence no adverse findings can be recorded against me," he contended. Referring to the criticism against him in the report that he had gone a "little mild and soft" in the deposition as compared to the contents of the Lok Sabha speech of February 21, 1991, he said, "If the report is true, this criticism misses the central issue"

Chidambaram said he had participated in a debate in the Lok Sabha on the dismissal of the DMK Government and proclamation of President’s Rule in Tamil Nadu.

"My party, and many members of my party including me, justified these actions, both inside and outside Parliament," he said adding during the debate as a spokesman of his party he was free to give expression to matters which he had read about, heard, gathered or even deduced.

Maintaining that this was a privilege conferred upon him as a Member of Parliament by Article 103 of the Constitution, he said while giving evidence before the commission he stood by his speech in Parliament.