<p>Thomas was understood to have met Chidambaram on Tuesday amidst increasing Opposition demand that he should immediately step down. Addressing a press conference here, the Home Minister refused to answer questions on the CVC. He said the issue was not under his purview and that it should be addressed to Minister of state for Personnel. <br /><br /> “How do I know what he has offered and what he has not offered? I made no suggestions and I received no offer,” he told a press conference. About his meeting with the CVC, Chidambaram said “A number of people meet me. I will not comment on the CVC.”<br /><br />When asked about the BJP’s charge that as part of selection committee for the CVC, he had made a “wrong selection”,” the minister said “I have no comments on the appointment procedure.”<br /><br />Chidambaram was part of the three-member committee that includes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj that discussed and decided the appointment of the incumbent CVC. <br /><br />Swaraj had expressed reservation on the appointment of Thomas citing a chargesheet filed against him in Kerala in a Palmoleine import case. The Centre over-ruled the objection and gave a go-ahead to the appointment. The BJP had then decided to boycott the swearing-in-ceremony of Thomas at Rashtrapati Bhawan.<br /><br />Appointed as CVC on September 7, Thomas also came under the scanner for his role as Secretary of the Telecommunications Department during the 2G spectrum allocation, according to sources. <br /><br />U-turn on Radia tapes<br /><br />On the Nira Radia tape leakage investigations, Chidambaram claimed his ministry didn’t order any probe. On Monday, the Ministry had said that a probe on the accountability for the leakage of the tapes had been ordered. The Minister said on Tuesday that the Central Board of Direct Taxes was already looking into the issue.<br /></p>
<p>Thomas was understood to have met Chidambaram on Tuesday amidst increasing Opposition demand that he should immediately step down. Addressing a press conference here, the Home Minister refused to answer questions on the CVC. He said the issue was not under his purview and that it should be addressed to Minister of state for Personnel. <br /><br /> “How do I know what he has offered and what he has not offered? I made no suggestions and I received no offer,” he told a press conference. About his meeting with the CVC, Chidambaram said “A number of people meet me. I will not comment on the CVC.”<br /><br />When asked about the BJP’s charge that as part of selection committee for the CVC, he had made a “wrong selection”,” the minister said “I have no comments on the appointment procedure.”<br /><br />Chidambaram was part of the three-member committee that includes Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj that discussed and decided the appointment of the incumbent CVC. <br /><br />Swaraj had expressed reservation on the appointment of Thomas citing a chargesheet filed against him in Kerala in a Palmoleine import case. The Centre over-ruled the objection and gave a go-ahead to the appointment. The BJP had then decided to boycott the swearing-in-ceremony of Thomas at Rashtrapati Bhawan.<br /><br />Appointed as CVC on September 7, Thomas also came under the scanner for his role as Secretary of the Telecommunications Department during the 2G spectrum allocation, according to sources. <br /><br />U-turn on Radia tapes<br /><br />On the Nira Radia tape leakage investigations, Chidambaram claimed his ministry didn’t order any probe. On Monday, the Ministry had said that a probe on the accountability for the leakage of the tapes had been ordered. The Minister said on Tuesday that the Central Board of Direct Taxes was already looking into the issue.<br /></p>
