'Example of good administration’: Chidambaram's swipe at Centre over vacancies in institutes under Atomic Energy dept

Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram

Former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Friday questioned why institutes under the Department of Atomic Energy have many vacancies.

“Here is an example of 'good' administration. Institute Posts Vacant 1. TIFR 1,448 839 2. BARC 14,445 3,841 3. IGCAR 2,730 596 4. NPCIL 15,088 4,343 These institutes are under the Department of Atomic Energy. Is it because there no takers for these jobs,” he posted on X.

Chidambaram on Thursday asked the government to spell out India's response to US President Donald Trump's threat of tariff war, alleging that no discussion in Parliament or consultation with Opposition parties has been held over the matter.

Here is an example of 'good' administrationInstitute Posts Vacant1. TIFR 1,448 8392. BARC 14,445 3,8413. IGCAR 2,730 5964. NPCIL 15,088 4,343These institutes are under the Department of Atomic Energy.

P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) March 28, 2025

Initiating a discussion on The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2025 and The Finance Bill, 2025 that were moved in Rajya Sabha for consideration by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he cautioned that a tariff and trade war would lead to depressed exports, lower FDI, higher inflation and currency depreciation.

He said India must stand with saner voices in the world such as Canada, Britain, France, Germany and Japan and collectively do everything to prevent a tariff and trade war.

Referring to Trump's statement that the US will impose tariffs from April 2, the former finance minister said, "What is the government's response? What is India's response? There has been no statement of policy, no discussion in Parliament, no consultation with Opposition parties. The government is holding its cards close to its chest, if it has any cards at all."

Chidambaram  said a tariff war will lead to a trade war. The whole world will be hurt..." He also alleged that Sitharaman had announced customs duty reduction on items including motor vehicles, passenger cars, goods, transport vehicles, motorcycles, bicycles and even toys in the Union Budget 2025-26 under the pressure from Trump.

The senior Congress leader alleged that despite several efforts, including withdrawal of digital service tax of 6 per cent on Tuesday, and lavish praise of Trump by Prime Minister Narendra Modi  and reduction in customs duties, the US President is not satisfied.

"First they tried concessions on February 1, Mr Trump was not satisfied. They tried flattery. He doesn't seem to be satisfied if concessions and flattery have failed and the tariffs are going to be imposed on our exports on April 2,  I want to know what is the government's response." A tariff war will be in breach of the WTO multilateral and bilateral trade agreements and international conventions. It will wreck the world economy. It will ruin the economies of developing countries, Chidambaram said.