Khurshid downplays 2G row involving Pranab and Chidambaram

Dubs the "note" from finance ministry "meaningless"

PTI | September 26, 2011



Law minister Salman Khurshid on Monday downplayed the row over the finance ministry note on home minister P Chidambaram's stand on 2G spectrum issue, saying there is no scope for any worry in the document and that inferences drawn out of it were "not correct".

Khurshid also said the note was not worth keeping the media "preoccupied" the for a long time.

"I have seen the note. I don''t think the note has anything on which we should express worry," Khurshid said, amid a controversy over the stand taken by Chidambaram when he was the finance minister.

"Even if all parts of the note are believed to be correct, I will say that the inferences drawn are not correct," Khurshid told reporters.

Khurshid, who made it clear that he was giving opinion in his personal capacity and in the capacity of lawyer, claimed that the matter was "not so big" as has been projected by the media.

He said the media was giving unnecessary attention to the note which, according to him, had "no meaning".

"I dont think the note should keep you (media) preoccupied for such a long time," the law minister said.

To a question as to why government was moving in "circles" with finance ministry blaming the prime ministers office for giving out the note under RTI, Khurshid replied, "if we are moving in circles, then you (media) are running on a treadmill."

Khurshid said the note was actually a "summary" prepared by a official at the lower level.

"People give their opinion over and above the summary. The importance of the opinion will be seen when the issue is discussed," he said.

The March 25, 2011 document on allocation and pricing of 2G spectrum broadly suggests that the scam could have been averted had Chidambaram insisted for auctioning the spectrum instead of being sold on a first come, first served basis during the tenure of former telecom minister A Raja.

Comments

 

Other News

India’s freedom struggle was shaped by wider Asian political thought

As we mark 80th anniversary of independence, ‘Asianism and the Fall of Empire’ (HarperCollins India) by historian Mithi Mukherjee offers a new perspective on Ind

What is colonialism? A relook at modern history

The Chromatic World Order: The Fiction That Rules Our World  By Sajid Mohamed Aakar Books  

Monsoon session of parliament adjourns sine die

The Monsoon Session, 2026 of Parliament which commenced on July 20 was adjourned sine die on Thursday. The session provided 19 sittings spread over a period of 25 days.   During the session 11 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha and 2 Bills were introduced in Rajya Sabha. 12 B

Consumer Justice at a Crossroads

Over the past four decades, India`s consumer protection landscape has undergone a remarkable transformation. What began with the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 as a simple mechanism to empower ordinary citizens has evolved into a comprehensive framework capable of addressing challenges ranging from mislea

Doctors, experts call for ban on junk food ads, mandate warning labels

More than 30 doctors, medical scientists and public health professionals have urged the government to take decisive action against the aggressive advertising and marketing of junk food, calling for a watershed ban on advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) and ultra-processed foods (UPF

Asiatic Lion population rises from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025

On World Lion Day 2026, environment, forest and climate change Minister  Bhupender Yadav celebrated India’s remarkable journey in lion conservation and reaffirmed the country’s unwavering commitment to protecting wildlife and biodiversity.   In a post on soc

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter