2G scam: DMK backs former Telecom Minister Raja
By ANIThursday, February 3, 2011
CHENNAI - The Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) General Council, which met here on Thursday has backed former Telecom Minister A Raja, saying he cannot alone be declared guilty just because of his arrest in connection with the 2G spectrum scam.
The DMK General Council adopted a resolution that blamed the Opposition for blowing the 2G spectrum scam out of proportion, and unnecessarily targeting A. Raja aiming to malign the party.
The resolution said that instead of taking up issues which affects common man, the Opposition had wasted the precious time of the Parliament.
“Already an inquiry is being conducted by the Public Accounts Committee under the chairmanship of BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi. As far as the issue of Raja’s continuing in the party is concerned, it has already been said the DMK leader Karunanidhi that if Raja is proved guilty, the party would take the decision impartially,” the statement said.
“Instead of taking action on Karnataka Chief Minister, who is also facing several accusations; it was unfair on the part of the BJP to malign the DMK,” it added.
Raja, however, offered to resign as Propaganda Secretary of the DMK.
The CBI arrested Raja along with RK Chandolia and Siddharth Behuria on Wednesday in connection with the scam.
The investigating agency questioned Raja for the fourth time on Wednesday. He was questioned earlier on December 24 and 25 last year and on January 31.
The Supreme Court has asked the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit status reports on their investigations into the 2G scam to it by February 10, when the case will come up for hearing.
Earlier this week, a report by a one-man commission, Justice Shivraj Patil, was handed over to new Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal. Justice Patil was asked in December to look into whether officials in the Telecom Ministry had, since 1991, violated government procedures and guidelines for allocating spectrum.
The CBI in its first information report had mentioned the loss as Rs.22, 000 crore based on the findings of Central Vigilance Commission, which had referred the case to it.
Raja was forced to resign from Union Cabinet last year after a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) faulted him for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue. (ANI)
