2G spectrum issue: Law Minister Moily says evidence against Raja not conclusive

NEW DELHI - Commenting on the 2G spectrum issue, Union Law and Justice Minister M Veerappa Moily on Friday said it is too early to assume that Information Technology and Communication Minister A. Raja is guilty on the basis of a draft report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).

“The matter is before the Supreme Court. The CAG findings are not final. The Telecom Ministry will be given the opportunity to answer the question raised by CAG…till that is done, you cannot say that CAG findings are final and there is conclusive evidence,” NDTV quoted Veerappa Moily, as saying.

The Law Minister further said the CAG had raised similar queries when Pramod Mahajan was the Communications Minister in the NDA government.

“NDA did not volunteer to make him resign. I have no memory of a minister who has resigned following a CAG report,” he added.

Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) chief M. Karunanidhi earlier today defended Raja over the 2G spectrum issue, saying he followed the same methods followed by his predecessors.

He said a decision on whether he would stay or move out of the Union Cabinet would be taken only after Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report is tabled in Parliament.

“We are not guilty. Raja had followed the same method followed by his predecessors Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie. What’s wrong in that? They had the first come first served policy,” said Karunanidhi, while addressing the media persons in Chennai.

“I know about CAG report. They give reports about the PM and all chief ministers. Let the report be presented, then we will respond,” he added.

Commenting on All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief J Jayalalithaa’s offer to support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government if it sacks Raja, Karunanidhi said: “The AIADMK tried knocking the Centre’s doors. But they did not open for Jayalalithaa.”

A. Raja had earlier this morning ruled out his resignation over the issue, saying he will prove that everything that he has done has been according to the law.

“The question does not arise at all. We will prove that everything has been done according to the law,” said Raja, while addressing the media persons in New Delhi today.

He maintained that he would not comment on the spectrum allocation issue as it is “sub-judice” and said the affidavit submitted by the Telecom Department before the Supreme Court yesterday ’says it all’.

“The entire matter is sub-judice. It may not be fair on my part to comment on this,” he added.

Commenting on Jayalalithaa’s open offer for support to the UPA Government, Raja said: “She is trying to save her own skin as she is facing corruption charges herself. She has no moral right to offer support to the UPA Government.”

On Wednesday, Jayalalithaa had said that if the Congress sacks Raja, she is ready to offer her support to the UPA coalition.

Raja, according to the AIADMK chief, has committed the mother of all scams, and therefore, he needs to be dismissed.

The 2G spectrum allocations caused an alleged loss of Rs1.76 lakh crore to the Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has stated in a damning report.

The report further states that Raja had no apparent logical or valid reasons to ignore the advice of the Law and Finance Ministries while allocating telecom spectrum to several firms in 2007-08.

The report is likely to be tabled in Parliament within ten days. (ANI)