Govt rules out Jaitley's resignation over DDCA issue

New Delhi, Dec 21: Government on Monday,Dec 21 categorically ruled out resignation of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley over allegations of corruption in Delhi cricket body DDCA which he headed till 2013, as Congress member disrupted proceedings of Rajya Sabha.

"No one will resign," Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said as slogan-shouting Congress members demanded Jaitley's resignation.

No one will resign over "false charges" levelled against them, he asserted. But Congress members continued to shout slogans, forcing two adjournments in the pre-noon session.

Soon after listed papers were laid on the table, placard holding Congress members were up on their feet shouting slogans seeking Jaitley's resignation.

Jaitley said he was ready to reply to all charges and urged the Chair to ask Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad to raise a discussion immediately.

"I am not going to live by any vague statements," Jaitely said, adding "if they have a single statement, let him (Azad) make it right now. I will answer it right now."

He was responding to Azad's statement that many big allegations including that of a Rs 150 crore fraud, 14 bogus companies being floated and conflict of interest at DDCA, have been in discussion for several days now.

Demanding a discussion, Azad said "he (Jaitley) can't remain on the position." Deputy Chairman P J Kurien said there is a procedure for levelling allegations against a member of the House or a minister and a prior notice to the concerned has to be given. He then went on to expunge all allegations against the Finance Minister.

But Congress members were unrelenting and continued to raise slogans. They held placards that read: "First Resign, Then Discussion" and "Caesar's Wife Should Be Above Suspicion." "Whey are you allowing all this noise. Ask him to start discussion right now.

I will answer it right now," Jaitley said. Kurien said the Leader of the House was ready for discussion and the Congress should give notice for discussion. "Sir, do I assume that they have nothing to say except raise slogans," Jaitley remarked as Congress members continued to shout slogans.

The slogan shouting intensified after Naqvi ruled out resignation, forcing Kurien to adjourn the House for 15 minutes.

PTI