Run a dagger through, don’t point finger: Chidambaram
15 May 2012 5:31 AM GMT
The Aircel-Maxis row led to fresh round of uproar in the Rajya Sabha on Monday, with the opposition targeting the son of the home minister P Chidambaram with fresh charges. The minister denied any wrongdoing and said that the company in question Advantage Consulting could be probed by the finance ministry.
Striking an emotive note, Chidambaram noted that he was happy that the issue was being raised by his friend of 22 years, the BJP leader Arun Jaitley, and said, 'It would be much simpler if somebody took a dagger and plunged into my heart, rather than questioning my integrity.' At this, Jaitley retorted, 'Our concern is not to plunge a dagger in somebody's heart... The purity and fairness of the government must be maintained.'
Linking the controversial Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to Aircel-Maxis with business transactions of Ausbridge, a company earlier owned by Chidambaram's son, the leader of opposition Arun Jaitley said that the e-mail and web address of Ausbridge Holdings and Investments and Advantage Strategic Consulting, that had a shareholding in Aircel-Maxis, were the same in 2006.
Chidambaram said, 'No member of my family or I have [had] any equity at any time indirectly or directly or have [had] any investment in any telecom company... We have no connection with any telecom company or have any share in any telecom company.'
At the same time, he downplayed the fresh charges that the e-mail and web site 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 web site address, what is the relevance of that?'
Chidambaram said, 'If you want to look into the book of account of Advantage consulting, ... I will certainly convey to the finance minister... [I]f you want to examine the transactions ... I will be the happiest person.'
Striking an emotive note, Chidambaram noted that he was happy that the issue was being raised by his friend of 22 years, the BJP leader Arun Jaitley, and said, 'It would be much simpler if somebody took a dagger and plunged into my heart, rather than questioning my integrity.' At this, Jaitley retorted, 'Our concern is not to plunge a dagger in somebody's heart... The purity and fairness of the government must be maintained.'
Linking the controversial Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to Aircel-Maxis with business transactions of Ausbridge, a company earlier owned by Chidambaram's son, the leader of opposition Arun Jaitley said that the e-mail and web address of Ausbridge Holdings and Investments and Advantage Strategic Consulting, that had a shareholding in Aircel-Maxis, were the same in 2006.
Chidambaram said, 'No member of my family or I have [had] any equity at any time indirectly or directly or have [had] any investment in any telecom company... We have no connection with any telecom company or have any share in any telecom company.'
At the same time, he downplayed the fresh charges that the e-mail and web site 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 web site address, what is the relevance of that?'
Chidambaram said, 'If you want to look into the book of account of Advantage consulting, ... I will certainly convey to the finance minister... [I]f you want to examine the transactions ... I will be the happiest person.'
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