News Politics National 'Sitharaman new I-T Lawyer', Chidambaram hits back at Defence Minister over Black Money charge

'Sitharaman new I-T Lawyer', Chidambaram hits back at Defence Minister over Black Money charge

"The buzz in Delhi is that Nirmala Sitharaman will be removed as Defence Minister and appointed as lawyer of the Income Tax Department. Welcome to the bar, Sitharaman," tweeted Chidmabaram, a senior lawyer himself.

P Chidambaram Image Source : PTIP Chidambaram

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram hit back at Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday with a tongue-in-cheek tweet, saying that there was a buzz she would be removed from the cabinet and appointed a lawyer of the Income Tax Department. 

"The buzz in Delhi is that Nirmala Sitharaman will be removed as Defence Minister and appointed as lawyer of the Income Tax Department. Welcome to the bar, Sitharaman," tweeted Chidmabaram, a senior lawyer himself.

"Bring the money back (from foreign undeclared bank accounts) and put Rs 15 lakh in the account of every Indian as you promised," Chidambaram said.

He also took a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, saying the President of "the richest political party in India" was "dreaming of billions of dollars".

Chidambaram's dig on Twitter came soon after the Defence Minister wondered if the filing of charge sheets by the I-T department against his family members was the Congress party's "Nawaz Sharif moment". 

The Defence Minister was referring to the Pakistan Supreme Court's decision disqualifying its former prime minister from holding office because of non-disclosure of assets and income earned abroad. 

The Congress leader reminded the ruling BJP of its failure to bring back black money from abroad and deposit Rs 15 lakh in every Indian's bank account, as promised by it before the 2014 Lok Sabha election. 

He also took a jibe at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah, saying the President of "the richest political party in India" was "dreaming of billions of dollars".

WATCH | Nirmala Sitharaman's press conference

(With agency inputs)