In yet another twist to the murky 2G scam, DMK and Congress members of the PAC (Public Accounts Committee) claim to have been uninformed and not consulted regarding various provisions of the report before it was reported by the press. They have called the 2G report biased, undemocratic and a plot to defame the government, and have asked for a redrafting of the report, while others have asked for the resignation of Murli Manohar Joshi, the chairman of the PAC.
These claims come just a day before the PAC meeting on April 28 to adopt the 2G report, although some members of Congress suggest that the meeting that was scheduled for tomorrow was not to discuss the 2G report. While the PMO is being blamed for irregularities in the 2G scam, thereby lifting some weight from PM Manmohan Singh’s shoulders, who it is now alleged was deliberately misled by former telecom minister A.Raja. The Enforcement Directorate earlier today mentioned that under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), two companies involved in the 2G spectrum scam would be slapped with investigation orders into properties worth Rs 2,000 crore each. While the companies have not been named, this process will take place within two months time.
Other key questions raised today were whether the PAC should finalise its findings on the 2G report, or whether investigations should be taken over by the JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee). The Congress in a probable bid to buy more time, is asking for an additional JPC probe. Another grey area is whether 2G licenses issued by A.Raja should be altogether scrapped and the beneficiaries who contributed to the Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss to the exchequer be slapped with huge fines.
The DMK has also backed tainted Rajya Sabha MP and daughter of Tamil Nadu CM, Karunanidhi, Kanimozhi who was to be arrested by the CBI yesterday in connection with the 2G scam, saying, -a person is innocent unless proven guilty’. Finally, while three of his counterparts, namely Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair of R-ADAG are posted in Tihar Jail, questions are being raised by members of the opposition as to why Anil Ambani, chairman of R-ADAG hasn’t been called to court yet.
