SP, AIADMK leaders demand Chidambaram's resignation

New Delhi, Nov 30 (UNI) The Samajwadi Party (SP) today demanded the resignation of Finance Minister P Chidambaram for his alleged association with Vedanta Resources Plc, which is reported embroiled in financial irregularities.

During the zero hour in the Rajya Sabha, SP leader Amar Singh raised the issue and wanted the government to make a statement.

Leaders belonging to the AIADMK, TDP and SP trooped into the well of the House. They demand functioning of Vedanta Resources Plc and Sterlite companies, owned by Anil Agarwal, to be probed.

Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat told the members that they had not given a notice under rule 238-A, and hence could not raise the issue.

In the past, Mr Amar Singh has alleged that a book titled Vedanta's Billions, authored by Rohit Poddar, contains references linking Mr Chidambaram with Mr Agarwal, who has a majority stake in the Sterlite Group.

The group had bought government-owned aluminium company BALCO. He demanded that the book be examined by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

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