COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST REITERATES PARLIAMENTARY PROBE INTO TELECOM SCAM
By ANIMonday, January 31, 2011
NATURAL WITH HINDI SPEECH
DURATION: 1.41
SOURCE: ANI
TV AND WEB RESTRICTIONS: NO ACCESS BBC
India Communists reiterate parliamentary probe into telecom scam.
Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), reiterates demand for a parliamentary probe into the telecom scam.
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS CONVERTED 4:3 MATERIAL
SHOWS:
GUWAHATI, ASSAM, INDIA (JANUARY 30, 2011) (ANI-NO ACCESS BBC)
1. LEADERS OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M) SITTING ON DAIS AT A PUBLIC RALLY
2. CPM ACTIVISTS ATTENDING THE MEETING
3. MORE PEOPLE AT THE RALLY
4. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRAKASH KARAT, GENERAL SECRETARY OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M), SAYING: “This 2G Spectrum scam must be probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee because it does not concern one minister. The entire governmental machinery has been misused.”
5. KARAT ADDRESSING THE RALLY
6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRAKASH KARAT, GENERAL SECRETARY OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M), SAYING: “The BJP and the RSS used to say that these people are innocent, they have been charged in false cases, but it has been proved that they were involved in militant activities.”
7. CPM WORKERS LISTENING TO THE LEADERS
8. (SOUNDBITE) (Hindi) PRAKASH KARAT, GENERAL SECRETARY OF COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA-MARXIST (CPI-M), SAYING: “Trinamool Congress on one hand and on the other hand Maoists jointly are attacking CPM and Left Front.”
9. KARAT SPEAKING
STORY: Prakash Karat, General Secretary of Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), on Sunday (January 30) reiterated demand for a parliamentary probe into the telecom scam.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, a constitutional audit authority, in its report had held former Telecom Minister A. Raja responsible for causing losses estimated at a whopping Rs 1.76 trillion ($39.57 billion) to the exchequer in 2G telecom spectrum allotments to favoured operators without any auction bids.
India’s premier probe agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), has been investigating irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum licenses since 2009.
“This 2G Spectrum scam must be probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee because it does not concern one minister. The entire governmental machinery has been misused,” said Karat, in northeastern Guwahati city.
Karat slammed the main opposition Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its forebear right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) for defending suspects of 2006 Malegaon blasts, Mecca Masjid (mosque) explosion and 2007 ‘Samjhauta Express’ train blasts.
“The BJP and the RSS used to say that these people are innocent, they have been charged in false cases, but it has been proved that they were involved in militant activities,” said Karat.
At least 38 people were killed and over 100 injured in blasts that quivered the Muslim-majority western town of Malegaon in September 2006.
The Mecca Masjid (mosque) blast in southern Hyderabad city in May 2007 claimed 14 lives, whereas three died and 15 were injured in blast at a Sufi shrine in northwestern Ajmer in October 2007.
A blast on February 18, 2007, near northern Panipat town, gutted two coaches of the ‘Samjhauta Express’ train that runs between Indian capital New Delhi and Lahore city in Pakistan, killing 68 passengers, mostly Pakistani nationals.
A member of the right-wing Hindu group Abhinav Bharat, Aseemanand has been arrested for his suspected role in the blasts.
As per media reports, Aseemanand admitted that he and several other RSS activists, which shares close ties with BJP, were behind the Malegaon, Samjhauta Express, Ajmer and Mecca mosque blasts.
Karat meanwhile accused the regional party Trinamool Congress (TMC), main opposition in eastern West Bengal state and an ally of the federal ruling Congress party, for colluding with Maoists to attack CPI-M -led Left Front government in the state.
“Trinamool Congress on one hand and on the other hand Maoists jointly are attacking CPM and Left Front,” added Karat.
CPI (M) -led Left Front has been in power in West Bengal for more than three decades. Presently, it is facing tough challenges from TMC ahead of the provincial polls due before May.
