2G scam: P Chidambaram parries questions on 2G note

NEW DELHI: Union home minister P Chidambaram on Friday used wit to skirt pointed questions from the media on the controversy and subsequent truce over the 2G spectrum office memorandum from the finance ministry to the PMO.

When asked if Mukherjee's statement on Thursday - clarifying that the inferences and interpretations in the finance ministry document, suggesting that Chidambaram could have prevented the 2G spectrum sale at cheap rates, did not reflect his views - spelt a win for him, the home minister feigned memory loss.

"I don't recall anything of that in the home ministry," he replied, reminding the reporters that the presser was limited to briefing them on the MHA's report-card for September. The same response followed when a reporter asked if he had offered to resign amid the heat generated by the finance ministry document. Another reframing of the query followed. "Over the events of last 10 days, did you at any point of time offer to resign as the home minister?" asked a reporter. Chidambaram, who is never short on wit, promptly replied, "Frankly, I have a short memory….I can't recollect."

Even though amused, reporters remained persistent. "How many times did you offer to resign," one of them asked, seeking an end to speculation in the media on the issue. Not quite the one to be done in easily, Chidambaram had his answer ready. "Along with a short memory, I am also poor in counting," he replied, amid peals of laughter.

The reporters were not giving up yet. Pointing to his "counting" remark, this reporter asked if that suggested that he had resigned at least once. "Actually, I am also learning numeracy," he responded. He ended what had by then become a cat-and-mouse game, with a reporter even wanting to know if he ever felt weak during the entire controversy, with a terse "there-is-no-answer" reply.