2G scam: PMO wanted to stay away from Raja plans, reveal file notings : North: India Today
New Delhi, July 26, 2011 | Updated 16:51 IST
Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has in the past denied any knowledge of the 2G spectrum allocation scam allegedly carried out by former telecom minister A. Raja, file notings by his principal secretary contradict his stand.
"Who got the licences... how first-come-first-served was implemented... this was never discussed with me nor was it brought to the Cabinet. This was exclusively telecom minister's decision," the prime minister had said earlier this year denying any knowledge of the 2G scam.
However revelations emerging out of file notings mentioned in Murli Manohar Joshi-headed Parliament's Public Account Committee (PAC) report contest the prime minister's stand. The notings by his principal secretary T.K.A. Nair indicate that the prime minister's office (PMO), while being aware of Raja's actions, chose to look the other way.
Former telecom minister Arun Shourie told Headlines Today: "The notings on the files show that the PM was fully aware. Even after the day on which licenses were given."
A noting on December 26, 2007, as detailed in the report, says "Raja wrote a letter to the PMO regarding issuing of 2G licenses".
Raja's letter and the then external affairs minister's note with a suggested course of action were submitted to the PMO on January 7, 2008. A day later, principal secretary to the PM conveyed the latter's desire to take into account developments concerning issue of licenses.
On January 11, 2008, PM's principal secretary wrote to Raja seeking update on 2G license developments.
On January 15, 2008, Nair's noting said that the prime minister wanted the information informally shared with the department and did not want a formal communication.
It said that the "prime minister wants this informally shared with the department and does not want a formal communication and wants PMO to be at arm's length".
"Raja has been very clever. He has written some 18 letters to the PM on every step," Shourie said.
"How is it that Chidambaram (then finance minister) cleared all this and says that nothing has happened? And yet ED of finance ministry slapped a fine on Etisalat," Shourie questioned.
What PM needs to explain
Despite clear divergence of opinion between law ministry and communications ministry over, why did the PMO not enforce transaction of business rules to sort them out?
Why did PM's desire to keep PMO at arm's length allow Raja to go ahead and execute his dubious plans?
Why did finance minister write a note on January 15 wanting the sale of spectrum matter be treated as closed?
"Who got the licences... how first-come-first-served was implemented... this was never discussed with me nor was it brought to the Cabinet. This was exclusively telecom minister's decision," the prime minister had said earlier this year denying any knowledge of the 2G scam.
However revelations emerging out of file notings mentioned in Murli Manohar Joshi-headed Parliament's Public Account Committee (PAC) report contest the prime minister's stand. The notings by his principal secretary T.K.A. Nair indicate that the prime minister's office (PMO), while being aware of Raja's actions, chose to look the other way.
Former telecom minister Arun Shourie told Headlines Today: "The notings on the files show that the PM was fully aware. Even after the day on which licenses were given."
A noting on December 26, 2007, as detailed in the report, says "Raja wrote a letter to the PMO regarding issuing of 2G licenses".
Raja's letter and the then external affairs minister's note with a suggested course of action were submitted to the PMO on January 7, 2008. A day later, principal secretary to the PM conveyed the latter's desire to take into account developments concerning issue of licenses.
On January 11, 2008, PM's principal secretary wrote to Raja seeking update on 2G license developments.
On January 15, 2008, Nair's noting said that the prime minister wanted the information informally shared with the department and did not want a formal communication.
It said that the "prime minister wants this informally shared with the department and does not want a formal communication and wants PMO to be at arm's length".
"Raja has been very clever. He has written some 18 letters to the PM on every step," Shourie said.
"How is it that Chidambaram (then finance minister) cleared all this and says that nothing has happened? And yet ED of finance ministry slapped a fine on Etisalat," Shourie questioned.
What PM needs to explain
Despite clear divergence of opinion between law ministry and communications ministry over, why did the PMO not enforce transaction of business rules to sort them out?
Why did PM's desire to keep PMO at arm's length allow Raja to go ahead and execute his dubious plans?
Why did finance minister write a note on January 15 wanting the sale of spectrum matter be treated as closed?
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