Government using news plants to divert attention: Randeep Surjewala

Unfazed by the AIADMK paralysing Parliament on the Karti Chidambaram issue, the Congress on Tuesday hit back at the government, accusing it of using news plants to divert attention from the JNU row and the Rohith Vemula issue.

“A jittery Modi government is using the modus operandi of news plants to divert Parliament’s attention from its now exposed anti-dalit/anti-student policies. The attempt is obviously to distract attention from HRD minister Smriti Irani misleading Parliament and the disappointing Budget which is inflationary,” Congress chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala said.

Noting that Karti, son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, as also the company concerned have issued a statement, Mr Surjewala said he is a private individual.

Besides, he said that even in the past when ED and government had raided the offices of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd and others, it was emphasised many times in a row now that Karti Chidambaram is neither a shareholder nor a director in the company.

Insisting that the company concerned has repeatedly asserted that it is income-tax, Registrar of Companies and RBI compliant, he said Narendra Modi heads the Union government while AIADMK is in power in Tamil Nadu.

If there is any evidence of any irregularity, they are entitled to take action as they deem appropriate. AIADMK members disrupted proceedings in both Houses of Parliament during the day demanding action against Mr Karti Chidambaram on the Aircel-Maxis issue.

“Of course, if it is a political battle against P. Chidambaram on account of vendetta, it should be fought in the arena of politics instead of hiding behind insinuations spun by the political handlers of the investigating agency,” Mr Surjewala added.