CPM questions PM`s role in 2G, CVC issue

Stepping up its attack on the UPA government on the issue of corruption, the CPI(M) said the manner in which it handled the 2G spectrum scam and the appointment of CVC raised questions on the role of PM Manmohan Singh.

New Delhi: Stepping up its attack on the
UPA government on the issue of corruption, the CPI(M) on Sunday said the manner in which it handled the 2G spectrum scam and
the appointment of CVC raised questions on the role of Prime
Minister Manmohan Singh.

Maintaining that setting up of the Joint Parliamentary
Committee on the spectrum scam was "not enough", party General
Secretary Prakash Karat said, "We would like the government to
take further action to recover the revenue lost in 2G scam".
"It is not enough to arrest a few persons. The
government should cancel these licences and auction the
spectrum so that the lost revenue can be recovered", he said,
adding that the investigative agencies should take action
against those companies which illegally got 2G licences.

The way the UPA government "has handled the 2G
spectrum affair and the manner in which the CVC was appointed,
have all raised questions about the role of the Prime Minister
in this affair and the cover-up that was attempted", he said.
Observing that the Supreme Court has "indicted" the
government for appointing P J Thomas as the Central Vigilance
Commissioner and set aside the appointment, he said it was not
just the Palmolein case against Thomas, he was also the
Telecom Secretary under former Minister A Raja, now in prison.

"The Prime Minister was directly involved in the
selection process. He has yet to explain how the former
telecom secretary under A Raja and who had a case pending
against him earlier was made the CVC", Karat said.
When pointed out that Thomas was also the Kerala Chief
Secretary, he said a distinction should be made between the
posts of Chief Secretary and even Telecom Secretary on one
hand and CVC on the other.

"The CVC is a constitutional post which requires an
unimpeachable character and integrity", he said.
Karat said the CPI(M) also wants an independent
enquiry into the Antrix-Devas contract on S-band spectrum,
which has now been annulled.

PTI

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