No differences in cabinet, says Antony
September 27th, 2011 - 4:22 pm ICT by IANS
New Delhi, Sep 27 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday said there were “no differences” in the cabinet in the wake of the finance ministry note on Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s role in 2G spectrum allocation, adding that the ministers worked as a team.
Antony made these remarks in response to a question whether the perceived tussle between Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Chidambaram had any adverse impact on decision making in the cabinet and in the all-important Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS).
“There is no single instance of differences. We are working as a team,” the defence minister said at a press meet here.
“All major decisions are taken by the cabinet as a whole. In all security related matters, decision is taken by the CCS. In that there is no doubt. Matters are discussed, debated and an unanimous decision is taken at last,” he said.
The March 25 note to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) from the finance ministry says that the airwaves could have been auctioned in 2008 if Chidambaram, who was then the finance minister, had “stuck to his stand”.
In the note, the finance ministry says Chidambaram could have prevented spectrum from being given away at throwaway prices by insisting on its auction — implying that presumptive losses worth thousands of crores of rupees could have thus been avoided.
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- Raja was not lying on Chidambaram role in 2G: DMK - Sep 22, 2011
- Congress defends Chidambaram on 2G scam - Sep 22, 2011
- PM, Pranab call up Chidambaram on 2G note - Sep 22, 2011
- UPA government at war with itself, Pranab wisest man: Jaitley - Sep 22, 2011
- 2G issue: I defend all my ministers, says PM (Lead) - Sep 25, 2011
- Pranab says he will comment on 2G issue only in India - Sep 24, 2011
- Sonia seeks to quell 2G controversy; meets Chidambaram, Pranab - Sep 26, 2011
- 2G note: BJP dismisses Pranab's clarification - Sep 29, 2011
- Congress defends Chidambaram, BJP wants his ouster (Roundup) - Sep 24, 2011
Tags: adverse impact, antony, cabinet committee, ccs, crores, defence minister, finance minister, finance ministry, home minister, no doubt, p chidambaram, pmo, pranab mukherjee, rupees, spectrum allocation, throwaway prices, tussle, unanimous decision, working as a team, worth thousands