Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has clarified that a note issued by his Ministry on 2G spectrum allocation, did not reflect his views. In a joint press conference with Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi on Thursday, Mr. Mukherjee said that the note was part of an inter-ministerial background paper which was prepared by a group of officers.

It was sent to the PMO on 25th March, 2011. The Finance Minister asserted that apart from the factual background, the paper contains certain inferences and interpretations which do not reflect his views.

He said, the policy of the government in 2007-08 was continuation of the policy adopted in October, 2003 and as reiterated by TRAI. Mr. Mukherjee said that a number of stories on 2G spectrum had appeared in the media in January this year. A view was taken that a harmonised note based on facts should be produced for use by various representatives of the government.

Talking to media, Mr. Chidambaram expressed happiness that his colleague cleared the air on the controversy attached to the said note. He said that the matter is now closed.

Earlier, Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met the Prime Minister at his residence on Thursday evening on the issue. Both the leaders had also met the UPA Chairperson and Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi.