CAG submits protest note to PAC over Sibal remark
The CAG, Vinod Rai, on Wednesday submitted a note of protest with the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee in connection with the statement made by Union minister Kapil Sibal, who had recently challenged the CAG findings on the 2G spectrum scam. The note reportedly mentioned that the comments of the minister with
regards to the CAG findings were “improper”. The CAG has already maintained that its findings that the government exchequer lost `1.76 lakh crores in the 2G allotment scam was correct.
Meanwhile, hitting out at telecom minister Kapil Sibal and others, the government auditor on Wednesday said that public statements on its report on 2G spectrum are “highly improper” as the matter is under consideration of a Parliamentary Committee.
“Making public comments on the matter which is being considered by a parliamentary committee is highly improper and may even amount to contempt of the House,” Comptroller-and-Auditor-General (CAG) said in a statement.
Mr Sibal had recently slammed the CAG for its report on 2G spectrum allocation saying that its projection of `1.76 lakh crores as presumptive loss on account of 2G spectrum allocation was “utterly erroneous”. The minister’s view was later supported by Congress MP and spokesperson Manish Tewari, who lashed out the CAG for violating canons of parliamentary propriety.
“The CAG after holding a live press conference on 2G spectrum issue is now advising MPs not to comment on it because the matter is being considered by the PAC. “It is an exotic logic that after going live with presumptive losses contained in the CAG report in flagrant violation of canons of parliamentary propriety, now the CAG is resorting to argument of propriety,” Mr Tewari said.
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