Houses disrupted again over accusations against Chidambaram

With the end of a decorous special session of Parliament to mark the 60th year of its existence on Sunday, the opposition today again targeted home minister P Chidambaram over his son Karthi's supposed involvement in the Aircel-Maxis telecom deal.

Belying the promise made just a day ago to maintain decorum in Parliament, the opposition continued its disruptive tactics, leading to two adjournments.

The opposition, particularly the Bharatiya Janata Party, has been charging since last week that Chidambaram had delayed permission for the sale of telecom service provider Aircel toMalaysia-based Maxis in 2006 when he was finance minister in order to help his son benefit financially.

Chidambaram had earlier said that neither he nor his son ever had a connection with any telecom company; and he read out a letter from Karthi expressing pain and outrage at the allegations. He iterated today that there was no wrongdoing by him or his son.

Raising the issue afresh in the Rajya Sabha, leader of the opposition Arun Jaitley of the BJP sought to link the government's clearance of the Aircel-Maxis deal with the business transactions of Ausbridge, a company earlier owned by Karthi. He said the email and internet address of Ausbridge Holdings and Investments and Advantage Strategic Consulting, which earlier had a shareholding in Aircel Maxis, were the same in 2006.

Chidambaram replied that the dealings of the company in question, Advantage Consulting, could be probed by the finance ministry.