Chidambaram must quit, demand SP, AIADMK

Chidambaram must quit, demand SP, AIADMK

Special Correspondent, The Hindu

3rd August 2006

NEW DELHI: The Rajya Sabha was abruptly adjourned on Wednesday as slogan-shouting members of the Samajwadi Party, the Telugu Desam Party and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam trooped into the well, demanding the resignation of Finance Minister P. Chidambaram over certain references made to him in a book on stocks scam.

Raising the issue during zero hour, Samajwadi Party and AIADMK members waved the copies of the book, demanding a CBI probe into the allegations. For the probe to be fair, Mr. Chidambaram should resign, they said. Much of what the agitated members said was lost in the din, but Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said a notice had been received for a discussion.

Notice sent

"The notice has been sent to the Minister for his comments."

Not satisfied, the members trooped into the well, raising slogans leading to the adjournment till the beginning of the post-lunch session. An official spokesperson on Wednesday said Mr. Chidambaram would not respond to any matter sought to be raised during zero hour.

Reacting to the furore over references to Mr.Chidambaram in the book, the spokesperson said if the Finance Minister received a notice from the Honourable Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, then he would immediately respond to it.