The government dismissed as "factually incorrect and totally baseless" news reports the then finance minister had delayed clearance by Foreign Investment Promotion Board to Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.
Government on Tuesday dismissed as "factually incorrect and totally baseless" news reports the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram had delayed clearance by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.
In a statement, the government said it had earlier issued a press release on April 28 regarding the foreign investment made by M/s. Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd., Mauritius, to acquire 73.99% equity in M/s. Aircel Ltd.
Referring to the earlier statement in which the charge of any delay was denied, the government today said the contents of that statement "are correct and and reiterated".
Reacting to a news report today which claimed that the April 28 statement was far from truth, the government statement said subsequently another application was received for downstream investment by M/s. Global Communications Services Holdings Ltd.
It gave the relevant dates September 1, 2006 as application for investment, October 3 for meeting of FIPB when it recommended the proposal, October 6 when the minutes of FIPB were drawn up and moved by deputy secretary, October 12 when the finance minister approved the minutes and October 20 when the formal letter of approval was issued.
"It will be clear from the above that the proposal was processed in the normal course and approval was granted in the normal course without any delay.
"It is unfortunate that baseless allegations should continue to be made without verifying the facts," the government statement said.
Reacting to the allegations, Law Minister Salman Khurshid said it was unfair to raise the same question again and again and the government has always been willing to provide information establishing that there was no "malfeasance".
"I will say these are issues on which we are willing and we have always been willing to give explanations and to make completely transparent available information on the basis of which any reasonable person will come to a conclusion that there is no manner of maleficence in this. It is there for anyone to see and read," he told reporters outside Parliament.
The minister was responding to queries after Opposition BJP and AIADMK created an uproar in both the Houses over the issue.
While the Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour, Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice during question hour after BJP and AIADMK members demanded Chidambaram's resignation.
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