"If someone has Rs 50,000 in his pocket, there is nothing surprising in it," - Rahul Gandhi's "intellectual brain behind" Jairam Ramesh almost embarrasses Congress MP Singhvi

Jairam Ramesh is an '"well known" intellectual in Congress circle and "neo-insider" in Rahul Gandhi's Team.

He claimed on Friday, Dec 6th, that he had spoken to five-six MPs earlier in the day, including BJP members, who showed him Rs 50,000 in their possession. 

Here comes the intellectual googly - "If someone has Rs 50,000 in his pocket, there is nothing surprising in it" .. -- also maintaining that he doesn't carry such a hefty amount to the Parliament.

Jairam Ramesh has a knack of embarrassing his party and his party men and perhaps also women. 

He has plenty of those anecdotes when he was Minister in the Manmohan Singh government. 

He also used to embarrass Dr Manmohan Singh - the then Prime Minister and other colleagues including P Chidambaram, the then Home Minister. 

On May 10th, 2010, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pulled up his Environment minister - that is 'illustrious' Jairam Ramesh for his critical comments against Home ministry in relation to China. 

Dr Singh told Ramesh that it was "advisable for Cabinet colleagues not to make comments on the functioning of other ministries, especially with regard to relationship with important neighbours like China". 

Rahul's intellectual Rajya Sabha MP (whom another Congressman Kishore Chandraa Deo blamed for mishandling Andhra Pradesh and Telangana affairs) had told journalists in Beijing that the Home Minister (under Chidambaram) was being alarmist when it came to the functioning and controversies around Chinese software giant Huawei. 

  

Reference 'Times of India' - 2010

There would be more.  But with regard 'cash' in Rajya Sabha, Ramesh made the remarks about nothing wrong in carrying Rs 50,000 after Congress MP Abhishekmanu Singhvi himself said --  

"I just carry a Rs 500 note when I go to the Rajya Sabha."

BJP MP Arun Govil said: "If such a thing has happened, it is unfortunate. Nothing should be said until the investigation is completed...". 

BJP MP Deepak Prakash says, "There is a connection between 'Congress, Kaali Kamai aur Kala dhan'...The Congress leaders have done the work of making this pious temple of democracy impure. What can be more unfortunate? Today, the Parliament has been shamed."   

"During a routine check yesterday after adjournment of the House, a wad of currency notes was recovered by security officials from seat no 222 presently alloted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi. An investigation will take place in accordance with law," Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar said in the House.

The remark saw an irate Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, quickly get up on his feet. "You said that this matter is under investigation. Until it is authenticated, his name should not be mentioned," the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha said.