A major political fight erupted on Friday following the comments by a former senior CAG official on the 2G spectrum allocation report. Congress president Sonia Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the BJP, claiming the party “stood exposed”.
The government also demanded answers from Public Accounts Committee chairman Murli Manohar Joshi over his role. Former CAG official R.P. Singh’s allegations are also a breather of sorts for the Congress, at the receiving end over the 2G spectrum controversy. Mr Singh not only disagreed with the final loss figure of `1.76 lakh crore, but eventually said the loss should be pegged at the substantially lower figure of `2,647 crores mentioned in the initial draft report on 2G spectrum allocation in 2010.
Mr R.P. Singh, former director-general (P&T) in CAG, alleged Dr Joshi and some senior CAG officials tried to influence the report, and that he disagreed with the final loss figure of `1.76 lakh crore. The BJP accused Mr Singh of playing into the Congress’ hands, other parties, including the Left, sought a thorough probe, describing the entire controversy as “extremely serious”.
Senior CPI leader D. Raja said: “I would like to know what is the truth since serious allegations have been made against the PAC chairman by a former senior official of a constitutional body.”
On his part, Dr Joshi described the entire episode as a “political conspiracy” by the Congress aimed at defaming him and the CAG. “If allegations against me are proved, I will leave the post of PAC chairman,” he remarked. Dr Joshi also questioned the timing of Mr Singh’s allegations, saying he could have raised the issue when he deposed before the PAC.
The Congress too said the issue was “serious”, and it required a deeper probe. Communications minister Kapil Sibal told TV channels the government alw-ays doubted the `1.76 lakh crore loss figure. “Now it is clear how the report was drafted. Since it is a serious matter, it should be probed,” Mr Sibal said.
Sensing the issue was snowballing into a major political controversy, the BJP came to Dr Joshi’s rescue, with its spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain saying: “The government is tainting constitutional institutions like the CAG to wash its taint of corruption. But by doing so, it cannot cleanse itself.”