Chidambaram questions PM Modi's silence on Lalitgate, Pankaja Munde

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Sunday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over recent controversies involving Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde and former IPL boss Lalit Modi.

"The Prime Minister, who criticised Manmohan Singh for being silent, is silent now...," Chidambaram said at a meeting here while referring to the allegations against Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who is embroiled in the Lalit Modi controversy, and Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde.

Congress party spokesman Raj Babbar had on Saturday demanded that Modi should step down if he was finding himself "helpless" in securing resignations of four women ministers who are under attack for alleged wrongdoing.

The four ministers being targeted by the Congress are Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, HRD Minister Smriti Irani and Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde.

Hitting out at the BJP-led NDA government, Chidambaram said it was time for people to question its leaders on the electoral assurances as one year has gone by since the new dispensation assumed power.

"It is time for the people, who voted for the AIADMK MPs in Tamil Nadu and the Union government, to question whether they have fulfilled at least 20% of their promises as 20%of the NDA (rule) period is over," he said after hoisting the Congress party flag.

The PM should explain to people what he had done in the one year period and whether "good days have come as assured by him," he said.

Lashing out at the Centre, Chidambaram said, "Farmers are not having a good time and the students of poor families are not able to get loan for pursuing their education. The hundred day employment guarantee programme has shrunk to forty days." Referring to his party, Chidambaram said "Congress cannot be destroyed by any party."