New Delhi: Congress on Saturday reacted sharply to BJP demand for a CBI probe against P Chidambaram after a Delhi court framed charges against former Telecom minister A Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi and 15 others in the 2G Spectrum scam, describing it as “purely a process of law”.
The party also snubbed those reading a political meaning into former Tamil Nadu chief minister M Karunanidhi’s meeting with party chief Sonia Gandhi here, saying it was wrong to link it up with 2G issue or Kanimozhi’s case.
“Today’s order is an inevitable stage in criminal justice trial. This is purely a process of law on which a political party has no need to comment. Those political parties, which are needlessly or deliberately trying to politicise this inevitable and inexorable process of criminal justice system are wrong in principle, in law and in fact,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here. BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said, “There are sufficient prima facie charges to prove they are guilty…A Raja had engaged in a criminal conspiracy.
The ex-minister continues to say that this particular charge can equally apply to the then Finance Minister (Chidambaram).” She also demanded that a CBI probe against the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram should be launched to ascertain his role.
Singhvi, however, countered the allegations. “Charges have been framed but there is no conviction so far. How can BJP come to this conclusion. If there is a chargesheet against A B C, how it can be linked to those who are even accused in a case. I think they need to look at the law. This is wrong approach.”
Asked about Karunanidhi’s meeting with Gandhi, Singhvi said, “There is no question of reading any political motive in the meeting. Some political parties look for politics behind every bush.”
Singhvi said Karunanidhi as former chief minister of a coalition-ruled state or a coalition party chief is entitled to meet the Congress president and so is a father entitled to meet his detained daughter. “BJP is in the habit of seeing politics into everything,” he said adding that the framing of charges in the 2G case or bail issue of the accused including Kanimozhi is a legal process which should not be looked at from such prisms.
“The allegations were serious from the very beginning. But allegations are not verdicts,” he said adding that it will be an altogether different matter if anybody is held guilty. Asked about Janta Party chief Subramanian Swamy’s remarks on 2G, he said Swamy’s agenda is known and it will be ridiculous to accept his comments at face value. (PTI)
