No file or record to indict PM, FM: P C Chacko

Justifies the clean chit to them in the draft report

The Joint Parliamentary Committee probing the 2G telecom spectrum allocation case has found not a "single file or record" to show any culpability of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the matter, its chairman P C Chacko said, justifying the clean chit to them in the draft report.

"... We have not come across a single file or record or evidence to see that any culpability or any responsibility in the decision making for the Finance Minister or the Prime Minister," Chacko said, in an interview with Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

He also said that Singh and Chidambaram were not called before the Committee despite the BJP's strong demands, as a majority of the 30 members were not in favour of such a move. Chacko responded to the attack on him for not calling former Telecom Minister A Raja, who has been held responsible for the controversial 2G allocation of 2008, insisting he was given a chance to present his case by making a representation.

He was responding when asked to comment on the Opposition attack on him for giving a clean chit to the prime minister and the finance minister in the draft report even though Raja has said he had kept Singh and Chidambaram in the loop on all decisions related to the 2G allocation. The Opposition members of the Committee have termed Chacko's behaviour as partisan. They also alleged he had prepared the report in such a manner so as to protect Singh and Chidambaram.

"Witnesses depose and say many things, we verify with the files. That is how we come to the conclusion...I do not think we have done anything wrong or impropriety," Chacko said, while clearly referring to Raja's claim about keeping Singh and Chidambaram in the loop.