Now, AIADMK creates ruckus in Parliament

Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha plunged into ruckus amidst repeated adjournments on Tuesday, following the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) members trooping into well, demanding action against former Union minister P Chidambaram's son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis issue. They alleged that Karti has build a huge empire in different parts of the country. The AIADMK is the third largest party with 37 MPs in the Lok Sabha, after BJP's 280 and Congress' 45.

Both the Houses were to discuss motion of thanks to the President for his address to a joint session last Tuesday. In Lok Sabha, Congress had listed its vice-president Rahul Gandhi to speak on the motion, where he was supposed to comment on recent controversies around educational institutions and Union human resources development minister Smriti Irani.

Outside Parliament, Congress accused both the BJP and the AIADMK working hand-in-gloves to divert Parliament's attention from crucial issues and the controversies surrounding HRD Minister Smriti Irani. "The attempt is obviously to distract attention from Smriti Irani misleading the Parliament and the disappointing Budget which is inflationary and will break the back of middle class/salaried class and only pays empty lip service to farmer," said Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjiwala.

ADIADMK MPs raised slogans in the House after a report published in the February 29 issue of a Delhi-based English daily regarding the raids carried by the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax in the Aircel-Maxis scam revealed that Karti had made investments in real estates and engaging in other business activities in 14 countries including USA, London, France, Dubai, South Africa, Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, British Virgin Island, Switzerland, Greece and Spain.

The daily claims that the raids threw up the details of Karti's wealth following raids on his company, Advantage Strategic Consulting, which is involved in the Aircel-Maxis deal for financial transactions with telecom beneficiaries. The 2G Court had already issued Letter Rogatory to Singapore for getting transaction details of the Karti-controlled company in Singapore.

While an upset Speaker told the AIADMK members shouting from the well that she can't understand what they want to say, the deputy chairman in the Rajya Sabha asked them to approach the government for action as the Chair is helpless in meeting their demand except to act against them for the ruckus. The Speaker allowed AIADMK member Dr Ponnusamy Venugopal to air his views, hoping that it would end the pandemonium. All AIADMK members withdrew from the well but they were back after he finished.

But the Congress said Karti Chidambaram was a private individual and is neither a shareholder nor a director in the company. "The Company concerned has repeatedly asserted that it is Income Tax, Registrar of Companies and RBI compliant," he said.

Political battle
Randeep Singh Surjiwala said both the central government headed by BJP and Tamil Nadu government led by AIADMK were entitled to take action as they deem appropriate. But, he lamented, that instead of taking a proper legal recourse, they are fighting a political battle against P Chidambaram on account of vendetta.