Yashwant Sinha junks Chacko's plea

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha today refuted JPC chairman PC Chacko's contention that he and his party colleague Jaswant Singh may have to resign if the committee summons finance minister P Chidambaram. Vikas Pathak reports.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday refuted JPC chairman PC Chacko's contention that he and his party colleague Jaswant Singh may have to resign if the committee summons finance minister P Chidambaram.

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"Mr Chacko is absolutely wrong. I was a former finance minister and also a member of the 1992 JPC on the market scam headed by Ram Niwas Mirdha. I was asked to give written evidence before the committee. We have repeatedly told Mr Chacko that we won't sit in judgment over our own conduct and will recuse ourselves when it is discussed," Sinha said.

He also countered Chacko's view that the committee works on majority, saying it works on a consensus. Sinha then posed a counter-question: "When did Mr Chacko put the question (of calling the PM and finance minister) before the panel and when did he seek a vote to ascertain a majority?" Sinha, however, did not divulge whether the BJP members had made up their mind to quit the committee. "I'll consult my colleagues and take a decision," he said.