Home Minister P Chidambaram on Monday met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress President Sonia Gandhi and offered to quit, according to sources. But for now, the Congress and the Government are waiting for the Supreme Court decision on Tuesday and also for the Prime Minister's return late on Tuesday evening.
As the Congress goes into a huddle to defend Chidambaram in the 2G case, politically it will be seen as putting a strong legal defence in favour of the Home Minister in the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The Supreme Court will resume hearing the petition that seeks a CBI inquiry against Chidambaram in the 2G spectrum scam.
Last week, the CBI had opposed any inquiry against the Home Minister after petitioner Subramanian Swamy filed documents in the court showing Chidambaram's involvement in the 2G scam.
The Central Government has also been opposing any intervention by the Supreme Court on grounds that once a chargesheet has been filed in the case, only the trial court should take any call in the matter.
While the apex court will sit beyond its normal working hours to conclude hearing in the case, any sort of order is unlikely to be passed.
Sources say that an upset Chidambaram in his half hour long meeting with Sonia did convey his side of the story, but also said that he was ready to quit if the party's image was taking a beating. But it is a catch 22 situation for the government and the party. It is aware that if Chidambaram goes, the target will shift straight to the Prime Minister.
Sources say the government's line of defence is simple that the spectrum policy was not wrong, its implementation was, clearly pointing a finger at former telecom minister A Raja's role.
All this could change and things can get tough for the government on Tuesday depending on what the Supreme Court says.
While the Centre will oppose any sort of inquiry against Chidambaram, it will still continue to be on tenterhooks as long as the Supreme Court does not pass an order on the petition. |
