Chidambaram parries questions on controversial 2G note

New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Indian Home Minister P
Chidambaram Friday refused to speak on the truce between him
and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the controversial 2G
note and entered into a banter with journalists on whether he
offered to quit.
At his monthly press conference on the Home Ministry's
working, a reporter asked him whether Thursday's truce was a
defeat for Mukherjee and a win for you.
"I don't recall anything of that in the Ministry of Home
Affairs," Chidambaram said.
"Frankly, I have a very short memory. I cannot
recollect," he told a reporter when asked whether he had
offered to resign and a round of laughter followed.
"How many times have you offered to resign?," a
reporter persisted.
"Along with short memory, I am also poor in counting,"
the Home Minister shot back.
"At least once?," the reporter tried yet again.
"Actually, I am learning numeracy," Chidamabarm said.
The reporter got back to him saying his answer would
lead to more speculation, to which the Home Minister said "you
have to fill your pages, go ahead."
Q: So you are not denying that you offered to resign?
A: There is nothing in the question that concerns Home
Ministry. The answer is no answer.
Q: Sir, an inter ministerial note (controversial Finance
Ministry note) exists in the Government though the Finance
Minister may not have given his consent. Do you feel weakened
by the controversy?
A: I can't recall anything in the Home Ministry.
When the reporter repeated the question in different
form, the Minister said "I can't question your beliefs."
To a question on the "unending rivalry" between
Subramanian Swamy and him, he said "there is nothing that
concerns the Home Minister."
The reporter again persisted. "But it concerns the Home
Minister".
Chidambaram replied "it doesn't. There is and there will
always be a Home Minister in this country."