Congress rejects CPI(M) demand for 2G probe against P Chidambaram

BANGALORE: Union Health Minister and AICC General Secretary, Ghulam Nabi Azad, today rejected CPI(M)'s demand for a probe into alleged "dereliction" of duty by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram for "failing" to take steps to prevent the 2G spectrum scam as the then Finance Minister.

"Chidambaram was never involved in this ( 2G scam). That is what the court has also said," he told reporters on the sidelines of India Bio Conference here.

Referring to Chidambaram's alleged role in the scam, CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu had said yesterday, "It's severe dereliction of duty. The then Finance Minister was supposed to share the responsibility of fixing the price (of spectrum licences). How did he discharge that responsibility is not in public domain. That needs to be probed."