Oppn for Raja's dismissal over spectrum scam

New Delhi, Apr 28 (PTI) Telecom Minister A Raja was in the
eye of a storm in Indian Parliament amid demands for his
dismissal in the wake of a report that a corporate lobbyist
was involved in alleged multi-crore scam over allocation of 2G
spectrum in 2008.
The report in a daily newspaper here became ammunition for
the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bhartiya Janta
Party and the Left parties to target Raja in the Lower House
Lok Sabha and the Upper House Rajya Sabha displaying cuttings
of the news that said, "The Central Bureau of Investigation
has acquired clinching evidence showing that a high-profile
woman PR lobbyist acted as power-broker in the multi-crore 2G
spectrum scam."
Raja was not present in either House and Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam leader T R Baalu along with party colleagues in the
Lok Sabha objected strongly over the charges levelled against
the Telecom Minister.
As soon as both Houses assembled for the day, AIADMK and
Left members rushed to the well in the Lok Sabha displaying
copies of the media report and the newspaper, demanding an
explanation from the Prime Minister on the outcome of the CBI
probe into alleged allocation scam.
In the Upper House, BJP and AIADMK members raised the
issue vociferously with members belonging to Jayalalithaa's
party demanding dismissal of the Telecom Minister.
Raja has been facing the allegations of distributing new
telecom licenses and spectrum at throw away price and causing
huge losses to the exchequer. Nine new licenses were issued in
January 2008 at Rs 1,658 crore for pan-India operations.
CBI is also investigating alleged irregularities in the
spectrum allocation and has registered a case against some
unknown officials of the Department of Telecom for their
involvement. But no report has been given by the investigating
agency so far.
The Rajya Sabha saw two adjournments on the spectrum and
phone tapping issues while the Lok Sabha was adjourned once.
PTI RC
KAB