Chidambaram should quit, says BJP

NEW DELHI, Tuesday (The Hindu) - The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for Monday as uproarious scenes were witnessed over the issue of appearance of Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's wife, Nalini Chidambaram, in a court on behalf of the Income Tax Department.

Repeated disruptions and adjournments rocked the House. Even Mr. Chidambaram's statement that his wife had made the court appearance without his knowledge failed to bring order in the House as an agitated Opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party, marched into the well, raised slogans and demanded his resignation.

Frequent interruptions, noisy scenes and adjournment of the House twice marked the proceedings in the morning session. Mr. Chidambaram came to the House as soon as it reassembled at 2 p.m. and made a statement, offering a personal explanation.

"I had no knowledge of the matter and it came to my notice when it was attempted to be raised in the House. Had it come to my notice any time earlier, I would have ensured that the proposal of engaging Nalini Chidambaram was nipped in the bud and not processed further," he said.

The Opposition members demanded the right to seek clarifications but it was turned down by the Chairman, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, who cited previous rulings that did not allow any discussion after personal explanations by the Ministers.

The Finance Minister said the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) had admitted its lapse for not informing him and expressed regret.

A statement had also been issued by his wife explaining the circumstances that led to her appointment as special counsel in the case, at the instance of senior counsel Pushya Sitaraman.

Mr. Chidambaram said he came to know of it when the Rajya Sabha Secretariat informed him about a letter by the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member, N. Jothi.

This related to the appearance of Ms. Chidambaram in the Madras High Court on behalf of the Commissioner of Income Tax in the Jayaram Mills Limited case.