BJP says Chidambaram involved in 2G scam

New Delhi: The BJP on Wednesday alleged that the taped conversation between former Telecom Minister A Raja and corporate lobbyist Nira Radia shows that the then finance minister P Chidambaram played a role in the 2G spectrum scam and sought an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"There are fairly extensive references in the conversation between former Minister A Raja and Nira Radia on whatever is alleged as the role played by P Chidambaram. The allegations referred there are related to money being taken and also functioning of Chidambaram regarding minerals and gas matters," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said.

The CBI could be taking a soft line on Chidambaram in this case, she said and maintained that this was visible when the investigating agency did not comply with the Supreme Court orders to provide more details on his reported involvement.

"An analysis of this money making by Chidambaram has been entered by the CBI as an analysis elsewhere. We are not able to understand how the CBI has not produced the details to the Supreme Court," Sitharaman said.

She noted that the Supreme Court, which is monitoring the CBI investigations into 2G scam, has asked the Income Tax department to produce the transcript related to the conversation between Raja and Radia.

The opposition party claimed that the conversation makes it clear that Chidambaram was involved in the making of the policy for 2G spectrum allocation.

She termed this a "very serious issue" and sought an explanation from the government.

"A conspiracy of silence continues on part of the Prime Minister in Chidambaram's case," she said.

The BJP maintained that the conversation makes it clear that Chidambaram was involved in policy making on 2G spectrum allocation.

"It is very clear that as regards the fixation of the prices of 2G spectrum allocation, there was clearly a role played by P Chidambaram as the Finance Minister in fixing the price of spectrum in 2007 at 2001 prices," Sitharaman said.

She charged that Chidambaram was reported to have been advising Raja at this point in time on how to go about the allocation of 2G spectrum.

"An allegation has gone so as far as to say that he (Chidambaram) was jointly responsible for the decision of going in for allocating spectrum in 2007 at 2001 rates," Sitharaman said.

The spokesperson insisted that these revelations raise several queries which need to be answered.

"It raises the question in our minds. Why can't we make an inference that probably Mr Chidambaram is culpable. It raises a very serious concern, in all our minds, I am sure. This certainly needs a lot of explanation," Sitharaman said.