HM''s statement on Thomas an after thought: Swaraj

New Delhi, Feb 2 (PTI) Leader of the Opposition in LokSabha Sushma Swaraj today termed as an "after thought" HomeMinister P Chidambaram''s claim that he had not misled the CVCselection panel and his contention that the BJP leader wasmaking "thoughtless allegations".

"I have seen that (Chidambaram''s) statement. I have toonly say that if he knew the case was pending it was theprimary duty of the government to apprise the selectioncommittee of that. They did not do that," she told reporters.

"All that he is saying are after thought... These factsare absolutely irrelevant," she added.

Earlier in the day, Chidambaram had refuted Swaraj''scharges that he had misled the CVC selection panel about thePalmolein case pending against P J Thomas.

"I take exception to the statement by Sushma Swaraj...

that I had ''misled the selection committee'' and told thecommittee that Thomas had been ''acquitted''," Chidambaram saidin a statement.

He said Swaraj is "tying herself in knots" by making"thoughtless allegations".

However, Swaraj stood her ground despite Chidambaram''sclaims.

"The first thing which he committed was that he concealedthis information from the selection committee. It was me whobrought this to the committee that there was a case and thenhe (Chidambaram) said he (P J Thomas) was acquitted," Swarajsaid.