Page 2 - P Chidambaram

Slap on the wrist of govt: P Chidambaram on SC's demonetisation verdict

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the majority verdict by the Supreme Court has steered clear of the question whether the objectives of the demonetisation exercise were achieved at all. The 'minority' judgement pointed out the 'illegality' and the 'irregularities' in the demonetisation, Chidambaram said on Monday soon after the apex court made its verdict. "Once the Hon'ble Supreme Court has declared the law, we are obliged to accept it. However, it is necessary to point out that the majority has not upheld the wisdom of the decision; nor has the majority concluded that the stated objectives were achieved," the senior Congress leader said in a tweet. "In fact the majority has steered clear of the question whether the objectives were achieved at all," he said. "We are happy that the minority judgement has pointed out the illegality and the irregularities in the demonetisation. It may be only a slap on the wrist of the government, but a welcome slap on the ..

Chidambaram asks if border clashes figured in Modi-Xi exchange in Bali

The Congress and treasury benches were engaged in a verbal spat in the Rajya Saba on Monday after ex-finance minister P Chidambaram sought to know if the border situation figured during the brief exchange Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Bali. As the senior Congress leader referred to a video of Modi's brief chat with Jinping in Bali during the G20 summit last month, treasury benches raised a protest, alleging he was deviating from the discussion on supplementary grants. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked Chidambaram to place the video on the table of the House later in the day. Chidambaram said, "I just want to know, without going into details, was the border situation discussed? Don't tell me what you discussed." The BJP's G V L Narasimha Rao objected to Chidambaram's demand through a point of order under Rule 110 which stipulates that discussion on a motion that a bill be passed shall be confined to submission of arguments either in

AAP spoilt Cong party in Gujarat, has no appeal outside Delhi: Chidambaram

The Congress is best placed to be the "pole" around which a non-BJP front can be built for the 2024 general elections, senior party leader P Chidambaram said on Sunday and asserted that the Aam Aadmi Party does not have much appeal outside Delhi with the exception of Haryana and Punjab. Chidambaram also stressed that there were lessons to be learnt by the Congress from the Gujarat loss, saying there is no such thing as a "silent" campaign in a hard-fought election. In an interview with PTI, he also said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) played spoiler in Gujarat, like it did earlier in Goa and Uttarakhand. He weighed in on the recent elections in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh assemblies and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi should reflect on the fact that the BJP was in power in all three but was defeated in two. "That is a huge setback for the BJP. The win in Gujarat, important as it is, cannot hide the fact that the BJP, the incumbent, was defeated ...

Great loss to industry: Chidambaram 'shocked' over Vikram Kirloskar's death

Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday expressed shock over the demise of Toyota Kirloskar Vice Chairman, Vikram S Kirloskar and said his contribution to the automobile sector would be remembered forever. Kirloskar died due to cardiac arrest at a hospital in Bengaluru on November 29, the automaker said. "Vikram Kirloskar's sudden passing away is a shock and a great loss to industry in India. Few business persons possessed his qualities of leadership, compassion and genuine friendship," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "His contribution to the automobile industry will be remembered forever. I offer my sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife, daughter and the other members of his family." Toyota Kirloskar Motor is a joint venture between the Japanese auto maker Toyota Motor Company and the 130-year-old diversified conglomerate Kirloskar Group. The company, which sells a range of vehicles, unveiled a new variant of its highly popular sports ...

No one apologised or resigned for Morbi bridge tragedy: Chidambaram

Ahead of the upcoming Gujarat Assembly polls, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday hit out at the BJP over its "arrogance", saying no one so far has apologised or resigned for the Morbi bridge collapse tragedy which claimed 135 lives. Chidambaram, who was here to campaign for his party, also claimed that Gujarat was being "run from Delhi" and not by the chief minister of the state. The Gujarat Assembly polls will be held in two phases on December 1 and 5 and the counting of votes will be taken up on December 8. On October 30, a suspension bridge on the Machchuu river in Gujarat's Morbi district collapsed, claiming 135 lives. Chidambaram said, As per my knowledge nobody has apologised or resigned for such a big tragedy. This is due to the BJP's arrogance. If such a thing would have happened in a foreign country, there would have been immediate resignations." "They have not apologised as the government here thinks they will easily win the coming elections and they need no

'PM undermining basis of constituency-based parliamentary democracy'

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "undermining" the basis of a constituency-based parliamentary democracy and claimed that a presidential form of government which the RSS wants to usher will entrench "majoritarianism". His attack came over Modi's remarks at a poll rally in Himachal Pradesh's Solan where he exhorted people to support the "lotus" (BJP's election symbol), saying their votes to it will be their "blessings" to him and that they should keep in mind not the candidates but "kamal ka phool". "Hon'ble PM said that the voters need not remember the name of the candidate in the constituency. Hon'ble PM also said 'vote for the lotus, it is a vote for Modi'," Chidambaram said. "Having shunned Parliamentary debates and press conferences, the Hon'ble PM is now undermining the very basis of a constituency-based Parliamentary democracy," the former Union minister alleged on Twitter. "We know that the RSS and its bhakts have nursed

Legacy of Modi govt after 8 years, no jobs: Chidambaram attacks Centre

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday attacked the Centre over the issue of unemployment, alleging that the legacy of the Modi government after eight years is "no jobs". The Congress has been attacking the government over alleged lack of jobs for the youth and rising unemployment. "After 37 lakhs in Uttar Pradesh applying for Grade 'C' jobs, we have 35 lakh applicants for 40,000 Agniveer jobs. Is the government listening to the anguished voices of the young men: 'we are desperate, we have no choice'," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "That is the legacy of the Modi government after 8 years: NO JOBS," the former finance minister asserted. The unemployment rate is eight per cent, which is understated because of massive disguised employment, he added. "The September Monthly Review of the Ministry of Finance does not utter a word on unemployment!" Chidambaram said. The senior Congress leader has been alleging that the government's policies have resulted in worsening the econom

Govt on denial mode on Global Hunger Index ranking: P Chidambaram

Ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram has alleged that the government was in a denial mode on the poverty and hunger index rankings

Trying to find when did BJP chief Nadda filed his nomination: P Chidambaram

Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram chided the BJP over its election process for president's post in response to the ruling party's criticism on Congress presidential poll

Kharge resigns in Rajya Sabha; Digvijaya, Tiwari in race to replace him

Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge has resigned as the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, sources said on Saturday, a day after he filed his nomination papers for the AICC president's election. Kharge's resignation, which the 80-year-old leader sent to Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday night, is in line with the party's declared 'One person, One post' principle that was announced at the Udaipur 'Chintan Shivir' in May. Senior leaders P Chidambaram, Digvijaya Singh and Pramod Tiwari are learnt to be the front-runners to take on the mantle of Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. The stage was set on Friday for a contest between Kharge and Shashi Tharoor for the Congress president's post. Kharge, a Dalit leader from Karnataka, has emerged as the clear favourite. The nomination of K N Tripathi, a former Jharkhand minister, has been rejected. Kharge, Tharoor and Tripathi filed nominations on the last day of the process which saw the AICC headquarters come back to life

MUDRA scheme 'practically worthless' in promoting businesses: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday criticised the Centre's MUDRA loan scheme, saying it was "practically worthless" in promoting businesses. The former finance minister also said he is not surprised that the non-performing asset (NPA) ratio is the highest under the MUDRA loan scheme. "I have long maintained that the MUDRA loan scheme is practically worthless to promote businesses," Chidambaram said on Twitter. The State Bank of India has taken pride that in the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry zone, the bank had distributed Rs 1000 crore to 26,750 MUDRA beneficiaries in 2021-22, he said. Mighty impressive numbers until one does the mathematics, Chidambaram said, adding that the average size of the loan to 26,750 beneficiaries is only Rs 3.73 lakhs. What new business can be started with Rs 3.73 lakh and how many jobs can be created with Rs 3.73 lakhs, he asked. The Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana (PMMY) is a scheme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 8, 2015 for provi

J&K: Will BJP explain decision to honour Hari Singh, says Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday took a swipe at the BJP over the announcement that Maharaja Hari Singh's birthday would be a public holiday in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the ruling party must explain the decision to honour the erstwhile ruler and "dishonour" the terms of the accession to India which the royal had signed on. The former home minister also said in the absence of Maharaja Hari Singh, only the people's elected representatives can determine their future. The decisions of August 5, 2019 were not the decisions of the people or of the elected Legislature, or of the duly constituted government, he added. On August 5, 2019, the Centre had scrapped J and K's special status and bifurcated it into Union Territories --- Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said the BJP has discovered the virtues of Maharaja Hari Singh, the last Dogra ruler of Jammu and Kashmir, and has declared his birthday as a holiday. The most important act of Hari

'If FM doesn't see red now...': What Chidambaram says on retail inflation

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday attacked Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman over retail inflation rising to 7 per cent, saying if she doesn't see "red" even now, it can be concluded that she does not represent the average family in India. After declining for three months, retail inflation rose to 7 per cent in August due to higher food prices. "Only a few days ago, the Honourable FM said that inflation was not a 'red-lettered priority' for her. India's retail inflation surged to 7 per cent yesterday. Food inflation is 7.62 per cent," Chidambaram said in a tweet. "If the Honourable FM doesn't see 'red' even now, we can only conclude that she does not represent the average family in India," the former finance minister said. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation, which is factored in by RBI while deciding the monetary policy, has remained above the central bank's comfort level of 6 per cent for eight months in a row. CPI inflation was 6.71 per cent in July an

Congress's Bharat Jodo Yatra is India's 2nd freedom struggle: Chidambaram

Bharat Jodo Yatra, launched by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, is the country's second freedom struggle and it will go on till the divisive forces are defeated, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram said. Lashing out at the BJP for criticising the nationwide yatra, he said the BJP would have no role in this second freedom struggle, which will see that party decimated. "I wish to tell those criticising our Bharat Jodo Yatra that you had no role in India's freedom struggle during which Mahatma Gandhi gave the slogan: do or die. Now too, you will have no role. Our journey will not end till the divisive forces are defeated," Chidambaram said addressing the rally near the Gandhi Mandapam here in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The BJP leaders belittled the Congress yatra, as they apparently did not want the nation to remain united. "When we say let's unite, they say divide," he said indicating that the saffron party's attempt to divide the nation will ..

Activist Teesta Setalvad 'a courageous fighter for justice': Chidambaram

"Welcome to freedom, Ms Teesta Setalvad, a courageous fighter for justice!" Chidambaram said in a tweet

Chidambaram offers help to Assam Congress in CAA case in Supreme Court

Former union minister and eminent lawyer P Chidambaram offered assistance in the case filed by Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) at Supreme Court against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), a party spokesperson said here on Wednesday. The APCC has also initiated talks with a top law firm in Delhi to take forward its case before the apex court with more vigour, he said. Our senior leader, eminent lawyer and former union minister P Chidambaram has consented to lend us all help in our case against CAA at the Supreme Court, APCC chief spokesperson Manjit Mahanta said here. If necessary, he will also assist during the argument stage in the apex court, he added. The APCC had moved the Supreme Court against the CAA in 2019. Mahanta said APCC president Bhupen Borah had met former additional advocate general of Assam Krishna Sarma in New Delhi and discussed with her the current status of the case filed by the party's state unit before the top court. He had entrusted Corporate Law

Wilful defaulters in India have decreased 56% in last 8 years: BJP

"Banks recovered over Rs 1,86,000 lakh crore from written-off loan accounts of wilful defaulters from 2014 to 2021," BJP's Amit Malviya added.

Did Gujarat govt consult Centre on Bilkis Bano case, asks Chidambaram

A special CBI court in Mumbai had sentenced the 11 accused on January 21, 2008. The Bombay High Court later upheld their conviction

Have right to protest: P Chidambaram on Sonia Gandhi's questioning by ED

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram asserted that it was not Sonia Gandhi, but the Congress that was protesting as it has the right to do so when its leader is being "harassed"

Ex-Finance Minister Chidambaram slams govt's GST hike on scientific devices

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Sunday criticised the government over the increase in GST rate on scientific equipment