P Chidambaram

Cong's Chidambaram calls INDIA bloc 'frayed'; BJP mocks 'picnic alliance'

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram raised doubts over the INDIA bloc's unity and future, drawing sharp reactions from BJP leaders who dismissed the alliance as weak and opportunistic

'Not sure if India bloc is still intact': Chidambaram hopes for revival

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Thursday voiced concerns about the INDIA bloc, saying he was not sure if the opposition alliance was still intact. Speaking at the launch of Salman Khurshid and Mritunjay Singh Yadav's book "Contesting Democratic Deficit", Chidambaram also said he felt that it showed at the seams that the alliance was frayed. "The future (of INDIA bloc) is not so bright, as Mritunjay Singh Yadav said. He seems to feel that the alliance is still intact, but I am not sure. It is only Salman (Khurshid) who can answer because he was part of the negotiating team for the INDIA bloc. If the alliance is totally intact, I will be very happy. But it shows at the seams that it is frayed," Chidambaram, a Rajya Sabha MP, said. He also hoped that the alliance can "still be put together, there's still time". The former Union finance minister warned that the INDIA bloc was fighting against a "formidable machinery", which must be fought on all fronts. "In my experience and m

Congress will support govt action: Chidambaram after Pahalgam terror attack

When asked about whether restoration of statehood would improve the security situation in the Union Territory, the former union home minister said that it is a separate issue but absolutely necessary

Congress claims credit for Tahawwur Rana extradition: 'UPA-era groundwork'

P Chidambaram says Tahawwur Rana's extradition is result of UPA-era diplomacy, slams Modi govt for taking credit for process initiated in 2009 after 26/11 attack

'Laboured and tortuous': Chidambaram on Sitharaman's explanation on capex

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman gave a "tortuous" explanation to his question about capital expenditure and asserted that the numbers "conclusively" proved that there was a "cut" in capex during 2024-25. Chidambaram said this in a statement late this evening while responding to the answers given by Sitharaman in the Rajya Sabha. The former finance minister said Sitharaman has given a "laboured and tortuous" explanation to a simple question on what was the budget estimate for capital expenditure in the 2024-25 budget and what is the estimate at the end of year. "There is a reduction (cut), and I asked in the Rajya Sabha what are the reasons for the cut? FM could have listed the reasons and it is for the people to decide whether the reasons are acceptable or not. "Instead, she has questioned the very comparison of BE and RE. I am astonished that the Hon'ble FM should say that comparison of BE and RE is 'flawed'. If BE and RE ar

Southern states will lose 26 seats in LS after delimitation: Chidambaram

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called for a joint effort from various political parties to raise their voices against Delimitation, calling for a Joint Action Committee meeting on March 22

A test for Indian diplomacy: Chidambaram on 2nd round of deportees from US

Earlier, Chidambaram had alleged that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) 'crumbled badly' in handling the deportation of Indian nationals from the United States.

BJP chief Nadda slams Opposition over deportation row of Indians from US

Congress leader Chidambaram questioned if Jaishankar raised or protested the US deportation SOP with Marco Rubio, given its restrictive measures and long-standing implementation

Congress leader Chidambaram finds faults with Budget in Rajya Sabha

Chidambaram termed it a "politically-driven budget" with the income tax cut being the "main thrust" of the Budget with an eye on the Delhi Assembly polls

Why no Bharat Ratna for former PM Manmohan Singh? Chidambaram asks govt

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Monday asked in Rajya Sabha why the government has not conferred the Bharat Ratna award upon former prime minister Manmohan Singh for his contribution to the country. Retorting Chidambaram's comment, BJP member Dinesh Sharma said what the Congress has given to Singh beyond insulting him. In his address during the discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 in Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram alleged that the present government has no philosophy and "thus no policies". "In 1991, we faced the gravest situation. A man entered this Parliament; he had an economic philosophy and followed it with policies. That required wisdom and farsightedness - qualities embodied by Dr Manmohan Singh," he recollected. Chidambaram further said, "To recapture the wisdom and farsightedness of Dr Manmohan Singh, I pose one last question to the government through the Finance Minister: Why has the Bharat Ratna not been conferred upon Dr Manmohan Singh?" Retorting, Sharma recollect

MEA 'crumbled badly' in handling US deportation of Indians: P Chidambaram

The former Finance Minister addressed Parliament on Monday regarding the deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US via a military cargo plane that landed in Amritsar on February 5

What is govt doing to stop Indians from going abroad illegally: Chidambaram

Congress leader P Chidambaram also demanded that the government take strict action against agents who lure young people into illegal immigration

'Bihar bias, ignored key sectors': P Chidambaram slams Union Budget 2025

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram accused the government of favouring taxpayers and voters in Bihar in Union Budget 2025

India's Union Budget: Interesting facts and history you should know about

Nirmala Sitharaman is India's first full-time female Finance Minister. By presenting her eighth budget, she strengthens her place in India's political and economic history

CEA's 'get out of the way' advice to govt most sensible: Ex-FM Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has called the Economic Survey 2025 a 'powerful indictment' of the Modi government's economic policies, citing key observations by the Chief Economic Advisor

CBI names Diageo, Sequoia Capital in case alleging suspicious payments

The agency said Diageo suffered a huge loss from the 2005 embargo on its products by the India Tourism Development Corp, a firm majority-owned by the government that had a monopoly

Delhi HC stays Aircel-Maxis case against Chidambaram, seeks ED's reply

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday stayed the trial court proceedings against senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate. The high court also issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and sought its response on Chidambaram's petition challenging the trial court's order taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the agency against him and his son Karti in the money laundering case. "Notice issued. Till the next date of hearing, the proceedings against the petitioner shall remain stayed. List on January 22," Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said, adding that he will pass a detailed order later. Senior advocate N Hariharan and lawyers Arshdeep Singh Khurana and Akshat Gupta, representing Chidambaram, contended that the special judge took cognisance of the chargesheet for the alleged offence of money laundering in the absence of any sanction for prosecution of the former Union minister who was a public servant when the offence w

Chidambaram calls for removal of Manipur CM amid ongoing tensions

The former Union Minister also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that it would be statesmanship if PM Modi visited Manipur and addressed their problems

INX Media Case: Delhi HC seeks CBI's stand on Chidambaram's plea to defer

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought the stand of the CBI on pleas by former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram seeking to defer arguments on framing of charges in the INX media case. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri issued notice to the investigating agency on the petitions and said "let response be filed". The senior counsel appearing for the two Congress leaders argued that the arguments on framing of charges ought not to commence before the trial court as the investigation was still pending. CBI's counsel said there was sufficient material to show "demand of bribe" and framing of charges should not be stopped on account of any pending investigation. The CBI had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during P Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. In the pleas before the high court, Chidambaram and

BJP govt has no answers on Maharashtra's rising unemployment: Chidambaram

He urged the people to think carefully before voting for their government