BJP, Congress war of words intensifies over Chidambaram

New Delhi, June 7 (ANI): Hours after the Madras High Court declined to dismiss a petition challenging the election of P Chidambaram to the Lok Sabha in 2009, the bitter war of words between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Congress party intensified with the later coming out again in support for the Home Minister.

Reacting to BJP President Nitin Gadkari remarks on Chidambaram, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said it is election commission petition and the Election Commission of India has declared Chidambaram elected.

He further asked: "Gadkari should first tell us how much money he had 15 years ago and how much money does he have right now."

Law Minister Salman Khurshid said: "Chidambaram should print out his resignation everyday, because BJP wakes up everyday and asks for his resignation."

"It's an election petition trial and not a criminal trial. It will be going to the Supreme Court. The BJP keeps asking for Chidambaram's resignation, it's a daily ritual," he added.

Earlier, Gadkari demanded that the Congress government should immediately 'sack' the Home Minister.

"The honourable High Court has found no merit in Chidambaram's petition and ruled that he should face trial for alleged manipulation of votes and corrupt practices to win 2009 Lok Sabha election. After the court's ruling it is clear that he is guilty of wrongdoing and therefore be sacked as Union Minister from UPA government," Gadkari told reporters here.

Gadkari said Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi have claimed they want to stop corruption, but their action doesn't seem to justify their words. "No action against Chidambaram means that the Congress party is tolerating corruption," Gadkari said.

Gadkari also said that the BJP had proof of Chidambaram's involvement in the 2G spectrum sale scam.

"Why is Sonia Gandhi protecting him? Why is the Congress tolerating his corruption? Sonia-ji had said she will not tolerate corruption. I want to remind her about this. The country wants an explanation," he said.

The Madras High Court today refused to reject a plea filed by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader RS Raja Kannappan challenging the former's election from the Sivaganga constituency in the May 2009 Lok Sabha elections, making way for the Home Minister's trial.

Kannappan, who narrowly lost to Chidambaram by 3,354 votes, had alleged rigging and "manipulation" of elections, and had filed the petition seeking declaration of the election as void.

He had claimed that votes secured by him in the 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th rounds of counting in the Alangudi assembly segment were "ingeniously added to Chidambaram's kitty and vice versa". (ANI)