The Hindu : Front Page : Jairam regrets remarks

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Sep 18, 2007
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Jairam regrets remarks

Gargi Parsai

Calls up Ambika Soni

NEW DELHI: Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh on Monday apologised to Culture and Tourism Minister Ambika Soni for expressing his “personal views” in public on the affidavit on the Ramar Sethu issue, filed by the Culture Ministry in the Supreme Court last Wednesday.

Mr. Ramesh said in Kolkata on Saturday that had he been in her place, he would have offered to quit for the “mistake” in the affidavit.

Congress Working Committee member R.K. Dhawan expressed a similar view on Monday.

Mr. Ramesh spoke to an “upset” Ms. Soni over telephone, and later sent a personal note of regret “that this [his remark] has hurt you.”

The apology came a day after Congress president Sonia Gandhi is believed to have pulled up Mr. Ramesh for “public expression of a private move.”

Mr. Ramesh told The Hindu that he explained to Ms. Soni that he absolutely had no agenda. He said it was a genuine expression of personal opinion in answer to a query at a press meet. “It was what I felt I’d have done had I been in Ms. Soni’s place. It was no reflection on her. She is a friend.”

Ms. Soni has sought an appointment with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is recuperating after a surgery, to present her side of the story. She met Ms. Gandhi on Saturday and gave an explanation for the “mistake.”

Even as the Congress hoped that the controversy would die down with its speedy owning up of the “mistake” as well as the action against two officers of the Archaeological Survey of India, there was no immediate relief for Ms. Soni, with different views being expressed within the party on her staying in office.

She said on Saturday that she would resign if the Prime Minister or the party president found her “culpable.”

Asked about the party’s view on the demand for her resignation, spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said the Congress was a “large and democratic party” unlike several others. What was expressed on Ms. Soni’s resignation were “views of personal nature.”

Asked about the party’s stand on the resignation demand, he said: “The party has taken neither a decision nor a view” on it. An administrative enquiry was on. The process of fixing responsibility was on and the final responsibility not fixed. “When we get the facts, we will share them with you and action would be taken accordingly,” he said.

PTI reports:

Mr. Dhawan said Ms. Soni could have submitted her papers to Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi for them to decide.

Also, Mr. Ramesh should not have gone public with his remarks. He could have taken up the matter with Dr. Singh and Ms. Gandhi. “If they had rejected Ms. Soni’s resignation, then Mr. Ramesh could have resigned citing difference of opinion,” he said.

Related Stories:
Affidavit not an inadvertent mistake, says BJP leader

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