'I didn't sign affidavit': Chidambaram tweets clarification on Ishrat Jahan case

Ishrat Jahan’s ghost is back to haunt P Chidambaram, screamed the headlines. It was alleged that Chidambaram, during his tenure as Union Home Minister, had doctored the report about Ishrat Jahan to remove all references to the Lashkar-e-Taiba.  _Firstpost's_ Ajay Singh had contended that “the revelations of sarkari hanky-panky in the Ishrat Jahan affidavits filed before the Supreme Court” is an “inconvenient moment for Chidambaram that will not go away in a hurry”. On Monday, the first day of the second part of the Budget Session, Chidambaram took to social media to issue a point-by-point clarification: As is to be expected from an eminent lawyer, his opening remarks were a thunderclap of sorts:

1. The Govt is intolerant to the slightest criticism. A junior Minister was asked to snub the Governor of the Reserve Bank. For what?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

  After which, he sought to quote another eminent personality (another play straight out of the lawyer’s handbook):

2. For quoting an ancient proverb to highlight the fact that instead of getting euphoric, we should b level headed & look at unfinished task

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

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3. That was the thrust of Dr. Rajan's remarks. But they are finding fault with his choice of words? And delivering a snub to him in Public!

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

4. I think far from diminishing the stature of Dr.RaghuramRajan, Govt has exposed its inability to tolerate even slightest criticism.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

  And finally, support to the ’embattled’ Raghuram Rajan (as these tweets would attempt to portray the RBI governor):

5. In my view, Dr.Rajan was not criticising or disparaging the growth. He was only highlighting the unfinished work!

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

  Now, on from the diversion to the issue at hand:

6. The affidavit controversy is only to divert attention from the real issue in the Ishrat Jahan case.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

7. Real issue is whether there was fake encounter & whether FOUR people already in custody were KILLED in that FAKE ENCOUNTER.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

8. Coming to the affidavits, the Home Minister does not sign affidavits. It is signed by an Under Secretary.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

9. Although I have no recollection of seeing the first affidavit, let us presume that I did. Then came the report of Magistrate SP Tamang.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

  Which brings us to the second affidavit:

10. This report caused an uproar & there was demand mainly from Gujarat that Government of India... (Contd)

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

11. (Contd) should clarify or dispel misinterpretation being placed on the First affidavit. This is why a Second, short affidavit was filed!

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) April 25, 2016

Ipso facto ergo sum? Hopefully, we’ll find out as this second part of the Budget Session stumbles on.