It's Day 1 & He's Already Violated Bail Condition: Javadekar On Chidambaram

Union Minister Javadekar also hit out at former Finance Minister P Chidambaram for his comments on Kashmir that stating there is no "freedom" in the Valley.

India's former finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram (C) uses his mobile as he arrives to attend an event at the Parliament House in New Delhi on December 5, 2019.- Indian ex-finance minister Palaniappan Chidambaram was granted bail on December 4, 106 days after his dramatic arrest on corruption charges that he says are part of a government witch-hunt against political opponents. PIC/AFP.

New Delhi: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Thursday came down heavily on Congress leader P. Chidmbaram, alleging he violated court orders on the very first day after getting bail. Chidambaram was granted bail by the Supreme Court on Wednesday in the INX media case and today he attended Parliament and also held a press conference pillorying the Modi government over the state of economy. Speaking to the media, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said, "The allegation against Chidambaram is that he indulged in corruption when he was a minister. Now he himself is giving a self certification that he is innocent. This is a violation of the conditions imposed on him by the court." While granting bail to the former Finance Minister, the apex court on Wednesday gagged him from speaking on the case. He was booked for alleged money laundering in the INX-Media case. Javadekar also took potshots at Chidambaram for his comments on Kashmir that stating there is no "freedom" in the Valley. "There was no freedom in 1975, when press freedom was abolished in the country and censorship was brought in," Javadekar hit back, referring to the dark phase of Emergency that was imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. "Today, all newspapers are getting printed on a daily basis... They print what they wish to," Javadekar said. He also said that there is no restriction on movement of journalists into the Valley. "Today Kashmir is on its way to development," he added. Replying to allegations of "man made" economic slowdown levelled by Chidambaram, Javadekar termed the economy under Congress-led UPA as "high inflation, low growth economy". He reminded the skyrocketing prices during the UPA era, adding that the current onion price hike was a "temporary difficulty". At the Parliament premises, Chidambaram told ABP News that "under the present government, the economy of the country has suffered and inflation is on rise; this government needs to go". (With additional information from Agencies)