2G note just a background paper: Pranab Mukherjee

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee claimed on Thursday that the controversial note on 2G spectrum allocation scam that his ministry had sent to the Prime Minister's Office was just a background paper on the entire issue and nothing more. Putting up a united and brave face Mukherjee, flanked by Home Minister P Chidambaram, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and Law Minister Salman Khurshid, addressed the media at the North Block in New Delhi.

Reading out from a prepared text, Mukherjee said, "A number of stories on 2G have appeared in 2011. A view was taken that a harominsed note based on facts be produced by various representatives of the government." "A background paper was prepared and sent to the PMO. The papers contain certain interpretations," he said but significantlly added that the inferences in the note were not his views. After Mukherjee finished reading the statement Chidambaram called him a senior and distinguished colleague. "I am happy with the statement made by my senior and distinguished colleague," said Chidambaram. They refused to take any question from the media after the statement. The decision to make a statement was taken after Mukherjee and Chidambaram met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The meeting at the Prime Minister 7 Race Course Road was also the first one between Mukherjee and Chidambaram after the 2G note controversy. Khurshid and Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanasamy also met Chidambaram for about 20 minutes. "All is well. Don't worry," Khurshid said after the meeting. It became clear that the Government was keen put an end to the controversy over the note and reports of rift between two of its senior-most ministers after Chidambaram went to meet Mukherjee in North Block. Mukherjee and Defence Minister AK Antony had also met Congress President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi where it was decided that Chidambaram should be defended legally. Sonia's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, too, was present at the meeting. The Finance Ministry note dated March 25, 2011 had said that the 2G scam could have been avoided had Chidambaram, the then finance minister, insisted on auctioning of spectrum instead of giving it on 2001 prices as was being done by former telecom minister A Raja.