Chidambaram mentions Maneka in letter leak: Sushmka

New Delhi, July 9 (PTI) Expressing her disappointment
with India's Home Minister P Chidambaram over the issue of
providing security to Varun Gandhi, senior Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader Sushma Swaraj Thursday accused him of
dragging the name of Maneka Gandhi in the leaking of his
letter to the press.

Swaraj, who acceded to Chidambaram's request made through
a letter to her to discuss Varun's security, met him Thursday.

After the meeting, she told the media that she had
brought up the issue of leaking of the letter.

"During the meeting with Chidambaram, I raised the issue
of leakage of the letter. He said I must have shown it to
Maneka Gandhi (Varun's mother). When I said no and told him
that I had only shown it to L K Advani, he confessed that he
had told mediapersons about it," Swaraj said.

Swaraj also told Chidambaram that she was aware that his
ministry had allegedly sent SMSes to reporters concerned that
the letter had been e-mailed to them and posted on the web.

"I am not satisfied with his (Chidambaram's) response.
In fact, I am disappointed", the BJP leader said.

Refusing to divulge further details of the meeting,
Swaraj said "though he made the letter public, as a
responsible citizen I would not."

She said Chidambaram discussed the government inputs
available on threat perception to Varun and details of the
security provided to the latter.

The Home Secretary, along with other senior officers,
were present at the meeting.

There were no heated discussions and the meeting was held
in a cordial atmosphere, she said adding "we are both educated
and civilized people and there was no need to have a heated
exchange of words on the issue."

Swaraj said that before leaving, she had made a request
to Chidambaram but did not reveal the details.

"I told him if it is fulfilled, I would be happy," she
said.

Varun Gandhi (29) had demanded that his security be
enhanced in view of the arrest of some underworld gang
members who had sought to target one of his lawyers
representing him in the court case relating to his alleged
hate speeches. PTI RC
RAI
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