2G scam: CAG report to be tabled in Parliament today

NEW DELHI - The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the 2G spectrum allocation is expected to be tabled in Parliament today

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will table the Performance Audit Report on the issue of licences and allocation of 2G Spectrum by the Department of Telecommunications in the Lok Sabha.

Mukherjee will also reportedly hold a luncheon meeting with the leaders of all political parties.

Earlier, talking to reporters here, Mukherjee said: “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s demand for a JPC probe into 2G spectrum issue is ‘unacceptable.”

“Why should the Prime Minister make a statement in Parliament. It is the privilege of the Minister to make a statement on the floor of the House. If Raja wants to make a statement, he can do so,” he added.

Further criticizing the BJP, Mukherjee said: “JPC demand is absolutely unacceptable. During their six year tenure, how many JPCs they had agreed to including on Tehelka (issue)?”

He further said the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is chaired by a member of the opposition party, would thoroughly study the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on the issue.

“We are destroying all the institutions. How the system will function? They (BJP) are also running governments in different parts of the country. This is totally a sad affair,” said Mukherjee after the Parliament was adjourned for the fourth consecutive today.

Earlier, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram dismissed an opposition demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam, terming it as ‘meaningless’.

“Demand for JPC is completely meaningless. Let Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) allow the House to run,” Chidambaram said.

He further said the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will be referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, which has the representation of all parties.

“Let Public Accounts Committee (PAC) go into the matter. The CAG report will be discussed comprehensively in the PAC,” he added.

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

The report is understood to have stated that former Information Technology and Communications Minister A Raja, who resigned over his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, 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. (ANI)