With focus on NRC, CAA, govt wants to implement Hindu Rashtra: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram slammed the BJP on Thursday, saying with a focus on the National Population Register, Citizenship Amendment Act and a countrywide NRC, it wants to "somehow implement its Hindu Rashtra" project.

Speaking at a programme, organised by a Left-backed outfit, he also criticised the IIT Madras director over a German student, Jacob Lindenthal, being asked to leave the country allegedly because he had taken part in a protest against the CAA.

"By taking part in the protests, he (the student) has actually reminded us that the IIT Madras was set up with the support of the German government. We should thank him for that. But he was asked to leave the country. Where did the IIT director go? Is he retired? or has he gone on a leave? Or is he dead?" the former Union home minister asked.

The meeting was also attended by CPI (M) leader Prakash Karat and Member of Parliament Kanimozhi.

Chidambaram said after the BJP came back to power with a bigger mandate, it was focusing on subjects like the National Population Register, the CAA and the NRC.

"What they want is to somehow implement the Hindu Rashtra. If Hindu Rashtra gets implemented, it will not only harm Muslims, but also other sections of society like the Dalits," he said.

Chidambaram said that countrywide protests against the CAA should not be portrayed as an issue between the government and Muslims because "that is what government is also wanting".

"Do not fall prey to that. This is a protest between all section of people who live in the country and the government", he said.

Talking about the German student, the Congress leader said, "He was silently asked to leave India (for taking part in the anti-CAA rally). There is no (official) word from IIT Director on this."

While taking part in an anti-CAA rally, Jacob Lindenthal was carrying a poster that read "1933-1945: We Have been There" (a reference to the Nazi regime). He later told media that IIT Madras and immigration officials had asked him to leave the country a few days after the agitation.

Citizenship Bill unconstitutional, battleground to shift to SC: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram described the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill as "patently unconstitutional" on Tuesday and said with its passage in Parliament, the battleground will shift to the Supreme Court.

He claimed that the elected lawmakers were abdicating their responsibilities in favour of lawyers and judges.

According to the proposed legislation, members of the Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities, who came to India from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan by December 31, 2014 and faced religious persecution in those countries, will not be treated as illegal immigrants and given the Indian citizenship.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha with 311 members favouring it, 80 voting against it and zero abstentions, after a heated debate.

P. Chidambaram

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 · 4h

When the voters will vote for a candidate when he is with the Congress and will

vote for him when he defects to BJP,

can we say that Indian politics has acquired a transcendence & formlessness that makes India=Heaven.

P. Chidambaram

✔

@PChidambaram_IN

CAB is unconstitutional. Parliament passes a Bill that is patently unconstitutional and the battle ground shifts to the Supreme Court.

Elected Parliamentarians are abdicating their responsibilities in favour of lawyers and judges!

1,114

8:51 AM - Dec 10, 2019

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ALSO READ: Citizenship Amendment Bill: Student group begins 11-hr Northeast bandh

P. Chidambaram

✔

@PChidambaram_IN

 · 4h

Replying to @PChidambaram_IN

CAB is unconstitutional. Parliament passes a Bill that is patently unconstitutional and the battle ground shifts to the Supreme Court.

Elected Parliamentarians are abdicating their responsibilities in favour of lawyers and judges!

P. Chidambaram

✔

@PChidambaram_IN

That is the price we pay for giving a party a brute majority that it uses to trample over the wishes of the States and the People.

846

8:51 AM - Dec 10, 2019

Sep quarter growth was on the expected lines, Q3 to be worse: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Saturday said the lower GDP growth rate of 4.5 per cent was as predicted but warned that third quarter will be worse.

India's economic growth slipped further to hit an over-six-year low of 4.5 per cent in the July-September quarter, according to official data released on Friday.

"As predicted widely, GDP growth in Q2 has come lower at 4.5 per cent. Yet the Government says 'All is well'. Q3 will not be more than 4.5 per cent and in all likelihood will be worse," Chidambaram said in a tweet posted by his family on his behalf.

The former finance minister, who is lodged in jail in cases of corruption and money laundering, also urged the people of Jharkhand, where polling is underway, to vote against the BJP to record their rejection of its policies.

"People of Jharkhand must vote against the BJP and record their rejection of BJP's policies and model of governance. They have the first opportunity to do so," he tweeted.

NSEL scam: HC asks Chidambaram to reply in 8 weeks or face ex-parte decree

The Bombay High Court has directed former finance minister P Chidambaram and two bureaucrats -- Ramesh Abhishek, former chairman of the Forward Markets Commission (FMC) and K P Krishnan, a former officer in the Union Finance Ministry -- to file their replies in eight weeks, to allegations made in a Rs 10,000-crore defamation suit filed by 63 Moons Technologies.

Hearing the case, Justice A K Menon warned that 63 Moons Technologies would be at liberty to apply for an ex-parte order if the three individuals named above fail to reply within two months. The case pertains to the Rs 5,600-crore payment default at 63 Moons subsidiary, National Spot Exchange Ltd (NSEL).

“While summons was served on them, they have not filed any reply so far. Hence, we approached the court for direction. The counsel appearing for Ramesh Abhishek sought six weeks to file a reply. The Bombay HC, however, granted eight weeks to them to complete all formalities, including discovery and inspection of documents. If they fail to file reply during this period, then 63 Moons will be at liberty to apply for ex-parte order,” said Vishwanathan Iyer, the counsel appearing for 63 Moons Technologies.

Meanwhile, the court rejected a plea by Chidambaram's counsel to grant the former finance minister some leeway on the grounds that he is currently in jail.

“Two month's time is more than enough to file written statements which the respondents are under obligations,” the court observed.

In its petition, 63 Moons charged Abhishek, Krishnan and Chidambaram with supporting a rival exchange and wielding their clout to introduce unjust regulations beyond their jurisdiction.

Court extends Chidambaram's judicial custody till Oct 17 in INX Media case

A Delhi court on Thursday extended till October 17 the judicial custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case.

Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar sent the veteran Congress leader to judicial custody till October 17 after the CBI sought extension of his judicial remand.

The 74-year old sought home cooked food in Tihar jail where he is lodged, citing medical ailments.

Chidambaram, who was Union home minister and also finance minister during the UPA rule from 2004 to 2014, was arrested by the CBI on August 21 from his Jor Bagh residence.

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.

Chidambaram moves Supreme Court seeking bail in INX Media corruption case

Former finance minister P Chidambaram on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in the INX Media corruption case.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Chidambaram, mentioned the matter for urgent listing before a bench headed by justice N V Ramana.

The bench also comprising justices Sanjiv Khanna and Krishna Murari said that Chidambaram's plea would be sent to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for taking a call on listing of the matter.

The Congress leader, who is presently lodged in jail in judicial custody, has moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court's September 30 verdict dismissing his bail plea in the case.

Delhi HC refuses bail to Chidambaram, says he may influence witnesses

The Delhi High Court Monday refused to grant bail to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case.

Justice Suresh Kait denied bail to the Congress leader, saying there is no chance of tampering with evidence but there is a possibility that Chidambaram can influence witnesses.

Chidambaram, who is in custody since his arrest by the CBI on August 21, did not approach the trial court and had directly filed the regular bail plea in the high court.

He was arrested from his Jor Bagh residence in the national capital and is in Tihar Jail under judicial custody till October 3.

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.

Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.

INX Media case: Delhi court dismisses Chidambaram's plea to surrender

A Delhi court Friday dismissed a plea by former finance minister P Chidambaram, lodged in Tihar jail in the INX Media corruption case, seeking to surrender in the money laundering case.

Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar junked his plea.

The Enforcement Directorate had on Thursday told the court that Chidambaram's arrest was necessary in the INX Media money laundering case and it will do so at an appropriate time.

Chidambaram's counsel had contended that the ED's submission is mala fide and intended to make him suffer.

Chidambaram, 73, is already in judicial custody in the INX Media corruption case being probed by the CBI.

ED had told the court that since Chidambaram was already in the judicial custody in the CBI case, he was not in a position to tamper with the evidence.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, had said that ED had come to the Congress leader's house to arrest him on August 20 and 21 but now they do not want to do so just to ensure that he remains in judicial custody.

Mehta had argued that certain aspects were required to be probed before his custodial interrogation.

The agency requires to interrogate six persons before his custodial interrogation and it was investigating money laundering which reaches beyond this country, he had said.

He had contended that the accused cannot guide the probe and the order to take him in custody right now will curtail the discretion of probe agency.

Prior to August 21, the 'reasons to believe' that he was required to be arrested existed and it exists even today, Mehta had said, adding that after arresting Chidambaram they would like to confront him with the evidence which has been gathered.

On September 5, Chidambaram was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in the corruption case by the CBI till September 19.

On the same day, the court had issued notice to the ED on Chidambaram's plea seeking to surrender in the money laundering case lodged by the agency in which the Supreme Court had dismissed his plea against the August 20 order of the Delhi High Court denying him pre-arrest bail.

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.

Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate had lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.

Chidambaram starts day at Tihar with religious scriptures, tea and porridge

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram on Friday started his day at the Tihar Jail by taking a walk in its courtyard and a light breakfast of tea and porridge, sources said.

The Congress leader was brought to the jail on Thursday evening and did not get much sleep, they said.

He is lodged at the prison's Jail No.7, which usually houses those accused in Enforcement Directorate cases.

The former minister after taking a walk in the prison's courtyard and reading some religious scriptures, had a light breakfast of tea, porridge and milk around 6 am, the sources said, adding that he was also given newspapers. 

Chidambaram, who was also the home minister during UPA 2, was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in the INX Media corruption case. 

His lawyer is likely to visit him in the afternoon, the sources said. 

 

Chidambaram has been given no special facilities, except a separate cell and a Western toilet as specified by the court, prison officials said.

Like the other inmates, he will also have access to the prison's library and can watch television for a specified period.

Before being given his cell, Chidambaram underwent a mandatory medical checkup.

Incidently, his son Karti was also lodged in this cell for 12 days in the same case last year.

The cell was prepared in advance, with the jail authorities anticipating that the senior Congress leader might turn up in view of the ongoing court cases against him, the officials said.

Chidambaram, who was also the home minister during UPA 2, was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in the INX Media corruption case.

The veteran Congress leader was brought to Asia's largest prison from the Rouse Avenue Court amid high security. It took nearly 35 minutes for the jail authorities to bring Chidambaram to the prison from the court.

The court allowed him to carry his spectacles, prescribed medicines to the jail and directed that he be kept in a separate cell in the Tihar prison as he is a protectee under Z-security.

Ratul Puri, nephew of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath, who is being probed by the ED in connection with the AgustaWestland and a bank fraud case, is also lodged in this jail.

SC rejects P Chidambaram's plea for anticipatory bail in INX Media case

In a setback to former Union minister P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant him pre-arrest bail in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.

The top court dismissed Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court verdict denying him anticipatory bail in the case, saying economic offence has to be dealt with differently as it affects economy of the country.

A bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna said it is not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail.

Grant of anticipatory bail to Chidambaram at this stage will hamper investigation, it said.

The investigating agency has to be given sufficient freedom to conduct probe into the case, the apex court said.

It also rejected Chidambaram's application for direction to the ED to produce transcripts of his questioning conducted by the agency on three dates.

The top court said that it has power to peruse case diary even before commencement of trial and added that it has refrained from perusing documents placed before it by ED in sealed cover as it may prejudice other accused.

Anticipatory bail is not a matter of right and refusing the relief is not violation of Article 21, it said.

The apex court, however, said Chidambaram can approach the court concerned for grant of regular bail in the case.

Need Chidambaram's custody to unearth larger conspiracy: ED tells SC

Money laundering is an offence against "society and nation", the ED told the Supreme Court Thursday and said it needed custodial interrogation of former finance minister P Chidambaram to unearth the larger conspiracy in the INX Media money case under PMLA.

The Enforcement Directorate told a bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna that it cannot show the material collected during the probe to Chidambaram at this stage as the evidence related to money trail of layers of money might be erased.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED, said there is no requirement of "exposing the materials, sources and evidence to the accused at the stage of pre-arrest bail" and investigation is the exclusive domain of the probe agency.

"Money laundering is an offence against the society and the nation and probe agency has a right and duty to unearth the entire conspiracy," he told the bench, adding that the apex court has consistently held that economic offences are "gravest of grave" irrespective of the sentence prescribed for it.

"I have materials to show that laundering of money continued after 2009 and even today (in the INX Media case)," he said, adding that the ED wants to interrogate Chidambaram in custody and without the "protective umbrella" of anticipatory bail.

The apex court is hearing a plea filed by Chidambaram who has challenged the August 20 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him anticipatory bail in the INX Media corruption and money laundering cases lodged by the CBI and ED.

The arguments in the case would continue during the day.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram arrested by CBI in INX Media case

Senior Congress leader and former finance minister, P Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday by the CBI for his involvment in the INX Media case.

A team of CBI officials descended on the residence of P Chidambaram, minutes after he reached there after a dramatic appearance at a press conference at AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

The team of about 30 CBI sleuths accompanied by Delhi police officials reached the Jor Bagh residence of Chidambaram and knocked on the doors for a few minutes before scaling the boundary wall to enter the premises.

P Chidambaram's son Karti lashed out at the CBI for its action against his father. "This is totally a politically motivated witch-hunt," the Congress MP, who is an accused in the INX media case, told reporters outside his residence.

WHAT IS INX MEDIA CASE?

Chidambaram, wanted in a money laundering case, made a dramatic appearance at a press conference in the Congress headquarters on Wednesday evening, and asked probe agencies to "respect" the law and wait till Friday when the Supreme Court hears his bail plea.

Chidambaram put up a strong defence of himself and his family members, saying none of them has been accused of any offense by the probe agencies. "I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law," he said rejecting allegations that he was evading investigating agencies.Senior Congress leader and former finance minister, P Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday by the CBI for his involvment in the INX Media case.

A team of CBI officials descended on the residence of P Chidambaram, minutes after he reached there after a dramatic appearance at a press conference at AICC headquarters in New Delhi.

The team of about 30 CBI sleuths accompanied by Delhi police officials reached the Jor Bagh residence of Chidambaram and knocked on the doors for a few minutes before scaling the boundary wall to enter the premises.

P Chidambaram's son Karti lashed out at the CBI for its action against his father. "This is totally a politically motivated witch-hunt," the Congress MP, who is an accused in the INX media case, told reporters outside his residence.

WHAT IS INX MEDIA CASE?

Chidambaram, wanted in a money laundering case, made a dramatic appearance at a press conference in the Congress headquarters on Wednesday evening, and asked probe agencies to "respect" the law and wait till Friday when the Supreme Court hears his bail plea.

Chidambaram put up a strong defence of himself and his family members, saying none of them has been accused of any offense by the probe agencies. "I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law," he said rejecting allegations that he was evading investigating agencies.