Cong retorts at BJP's 'absolute cacophony' over Chidambaram

Hitting back at the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress on Thursday dismissed as "absolute cacophony" its demand for Home Minister P Chidambaram's resignation, contending that the finance ministry note on the 2G issue cannot have any effect of guilt.

"It is absolute cacophony. (They are creating) an ambience of instability. How can a ministry note have an effect on guilt," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

He claimed that the BJP was "passing judgement" on the home minister by using verbatim summary of Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy's arguments in the Supreme Court.

Singhvi said that the reasons for such attacks was the "festering frustration" of the BJP after it lost power in May 2004 and has been out of office since then.

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"BJP has never digested the loss of power. Coming down from heights of illusion and delights of India Shining, they have never been able to digest the fact that they have lost power," he said alleging that the Opposition party has number of unsuccessful attempts since then to unseat the UPA "in its naked lust of power and unprincipled politics".

Singhvi said BJP's shenanigans were initially the consequence of the "vaulting ambition of one man and then subsequently the collective ambition of several contenders to the throne".

Downplaying the March 25 finance ministry note that is at the centre of the controversy, Singhvi said it was nothing more than a "factual summary followed by a judgemental sentence of an officer."

"Can it bring guilt if it does not exist? Can it absolve guilt if it does exist? How can a ministry note have an effect on guilt? The legal effect of such a note is zero."

Ridiculing BJP's contention that the government's collapse was taking place due to its own contradictions, he said that they had set several dates for the demise of the UPA government since 2004. "Such dates got extended from time to time."

Taking a dig at BJP's "hollow nature of attack", he quoted Mark Twain that "reports of my demise are highly exaggerated".

Besides, he offered a bargain to the Opposition party saying "if the BJP stops telling lies about us, we will stop telling truth about them."

Singhvi was also scathing on the BJP for attacking Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over his remarks that the Opposition was trying to destabilise the government.

He also ridiculed suggestions that the PM's remarks that his government will complete full term is an indication of any insecurity.

"The prime minister needs no assurance. He is the longest serving Prime Minister after Pandit Nehru unlike some in the BJP and other parties."

Ruling out contention of a rift in the government if the finance minister and the home minister meet the Prime Minister and the party president, he said it does not suggest any dispute between them.