2G scam: PM rejects opposition demand for Chidambaram's resignation

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today rejected the Opposition demand for the resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram over the 2G issue and made it clear he will defend all his Cabinet colleagues.

Ahead of his meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New York tomorrow, Singh also said there is nothing unusual in the demand of the opposition and asserted there is no question of him getting bothered about this.

"The business of the opposition is to oppose and to depose the government in power, so this is nothing unsual they are doing," he told reporters on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly(UNGA) session which he addressed this morning.

Singh was asked to comment on the strident demand of the Opposition for Chidambaram's resignation in the light of the Finance Ministry's 2G note to the Prime Minister's office(PMO) submitted to the Supreme Court early this week.

The note that has kicked up a political storm suggested that the 2G scam could have been averted had the Finance Ministry then headed by Chidambaram insisted on the auction route instead of 2001 price for allotment of spectrum.

Singh replied in the negative when asked if he was bothered about the opposition demand.

"Why should I be bothered?," he asked.

Asked whether he will back Mukherjee like Chidambaram, Singh replied,"Of course all my ministers. They are I think ministers who enjoy my confidence in full."