New Delhi: BJP on Saturday accused Telecom
Minister Kapil Sibal of misusing his Cabinet position to give
a penalty waiver to Reliance Communications and maintained
that by terming the PIL on the issue a move to defame him he
is insulting the courts.
"This whole government has become a shield to the
looters of India who are enjoying all the perks in the
Cabinet. Sibal, who is an expert in making illogical
arguments, has called the PIL on penalty waiver from Rs 50
crore to Rs 5 crore as malicious, motivated and defamatory. He
has insulted the courts," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay said.
A PIL has alleged that when Enforcement Directorate
found Reliance Communications guilty of causing a loss of
Rs 650 crore to the exchequer, a fine of Rs 50 crore was
imposed. Sibal cut it down to Rs 5 crore.
"Sibal has misused his cabinet position to take
decisions against the interest of the country. He has reduced
the penalty to Rs 500 per day (on average) by making it Rs 5
Crore from Rs 50 crore. This is betrayal of the people," Vijay
said.
The BJP MP insisted that Sibal's charge of this PIL
being aimed at settling "personal scores" with him is
"jugglery of words".
He alleged that Sibal has violated the trust of the
people and is giving clarifications on behalf of Reliance
Communications on this issue.
"We are also shocked to see the stunning silence of
Sonia Gandhi on this whole scandal," Vijay said.
PTI
First Published: Saturday, July 09, 2011, 22:53