The Hindu : National : Disclose the names, MPs urge Chidambaram

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Wednesday, May 04, 2005

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National

Disclose the names, MPs urge Chidambaram

Special Correspondent

"Two NDA leaders wrote to me asking to withdraw ordinance promulgated to recover money from ITC"

NEW DELHI: With no Opposition MP present, members of the ruling coalition in both Houses of Parliament on Tuesday raised two issues, which sought to expose senior leaders of the NDA.

While the Lok Sabha members demanded that Finance Minister P. Chidambaram disclose the names of the two NDA leaders who sought withdrawal of an ordinance issued to recover Rs. 803 crores from ITC, an echo of the Phukan controversy was heard in both Houses.

While Railway Minister Lalu Prasad offered to convey to Mr. Chidambaram the sentiments of the members, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said he would make a statement on Wednesday whether the guidelines of the Indian Air Force were violated by allowing the chairman and members of the Tehelka Inquiry Commission to use an aircraft from its VVIP fleet.

The ITC issue was raised by Pawan Bansal (Congress), who demanded that the air be cleared. There was too much speculation on the identity of the two NDA leaders. The Rashtriya Janata Dal MPs joined him.

During the discussion on the Finance Bill on Monday, Mr. Chidambaram said two senior NDA leaders had written to him asking him to withdraw the ordinance promulgated to recover Rs. 803 crores from ITC.

In the Rajya Sabha, the Phukan issue was raised by Chittabrata Majumdar of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), again after question hour.

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