Opp. tears into Sibal for CAG remarks
The Opposition on Saturday slammed telecom minister Kapil Sibal for his stand that there was no loss at all on account of the controversial 2G spectrum allocation. The minister had also debunked CAG estimates of a `1.76 lakh crore loss.
While the BJP said Mr Sibal’s statement was “designed to save the former telecom minister A. Raja,” the CPI(M) said it appeared to be “a cover-up exercise” to shield the beneficiaries of the scam.
Strongly reacting to Mr Sibal’s statement, senior BJP leader and Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman M.M. Joshi said it was not right for a minister to make a statement like this about a CAG report while the PAC is looking at it.
Dr Joshi said the minister’s statements were highly objectionable and alleged his stand was an attempt designed to save Mr Raja, who had to resign in the wake of the 2G scam, and other beneficiaries. “In my opinion, it is highly improper. The CAG has never said that it is the exact amount. Mr Sibal should have read the report carefully,” Dr Joshi said in Guwahati.
Terming as “bizarre” Mr Sibal’s stand, the CPI(M) said it appeared to be “a cover-up exercise” to shield the beneficiaries of the scam. CPI(M) politburo member Sitaram Yechury described as “flawed” Mr Sibal’s argument that the CAG methodology on presumptive loss of `1.76 lakh crore was erroneous.
“It appeared to be a cover- up exercise to shield those who had benefited,” Mr Yechury said in Bengaluru.
in Guwahati, BJP chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad reacted sharply to the telecom minister’s statements, saying, “Sibal’s unwarranted comments have sought to overreach parliamentary process when the PAC is looking into it. It is a frontal attack on the CAG, designed to save (former telecom minister) A. Raja.”
In a statement, the CPI(M) said Mr Sibal’s statement on the issue was “clearly meant to protect the ill-gotten gains” made by corporates who got the licences at throwaway prices.
“It is clear from Sibal’s defence that the UPA government is far more deeply involved than just the lone acts of A. Raja,” the CPI(M) politburo said, adding that his “bizarre defence” of the 2G spectrum allocation once again underlined the need for a JPC to investigate the issue.
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