<p>The report had found “fault” with Chidambaram for asking the Prime Minister in 2008 to “treat the matter” relating to the allocation of spectrum “as closed”.<br /><br />In a statement on Friday, Chidambaram who was Union Finance minister in 2008 said “even a person of average intelligence,” should be able to spot that Joshi has incorrectly stated the facts.<br /><br />Joining the debate which was turning increasingly bitter, BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram of “direct complicity” in the 2G spectrum issue and maintained that the draft report of PAC on the scam should be submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker to expose the “UPA coalition of the corrupt”.<br /><br />Chidambaram, in his defence, said the letter written by him to the Prime Minister in January 2008, after telecom licenses were allotted, has been deliberately taken out of context by Joshi.<br /><br />Chidambaram said his letter referred not to the “entry fee” or what companies had to pay to enter the market, but to usage charges for spectrum.<br /><br />“This note does not deal with the need, if any , to revise entry fee or rate of revenue share. This note deals with spectrum charges of 2-G spectrum,” the statement issued by Chidambaram said. <br /><br />He said the draft report distorted the content and context of the letter to the prime minister by not mentioning “what the matter was.” <br /><br />The minister called it “mischievous” and pointed out to “rejection” of the report by members.</p>
<p>The report had found “fault” with Chidambaram for asking the Prime Minister in 2008 to “treat the matter” relating to the allocation of spectrum “as closed”.<br /><br />In a statement on Friday, Chidambaram who was Union Finance minister in 2008 said “even a person of average intelligence,” should be able to spot that Joshi has incorrectly stated the facts.<br /><br />Joining the debate which was turning increasingly bitter, BJP leader and former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram of “direct complicity” in the 2G spectrum issue and maintained that the draft report of PAC on the scam should be submitted to the Lok Sabha Speaker to expose the “UPA coalition of the corrupt”.<br /><br />Chidambaram, in his defence, said the letter written by him to the Prime Minister in January 2008, after telecom licenses were allotted, has been deliberately taken out of context by Joshi.<br /><br />Chidambaram said his letter referred not to the “entry fee” or what companies had to pay to enter the market, but to usage charges for spectrum.<br /><br />“This note does not deal with the need, if any , to revise entry fee or rate of revenue share. This note deals with spectrum charges of 2-G spectrum,” the statement issued by Chidambaram said. <br /><br />He said the draft report distorted the content and context of the letter to the prime minister by not mentioning “what the matter was.” <br /><br />The minister called it “mischievous” and pointed out to “rejection” of the report by members.</p>
