PM tightlipped on Raja, says DMK alliance stands

On Board Air India One, Nov 13: Returning from the G20 summit in South Korea at a time when his government is facing immense pressure from the Opposition to sack Telecom Minister A Raja over the 2G spectrum scam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh refused to comment on the raging row citing that it was improper for him to "comment on a subject".

"Parliament is in session. It is not proper for me to comment on a subject which is also probably in the court," said Dr Singh in response to a question in the 2G scam during a press briefing on board Air India One.

He also remained tightlipped on the CAG report that indicted Raja.

On AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa's offer of support to the UPA government, the PM said, "This is a subject I am hearing for the first time. It is for the Congress high command to take note of it. I don't know what Dr Jayalalithaa has offered."

"We are in alliance with DMK and that alliance stands as of now," he asserted.

Despite pressure from the Opposition, Congress is treading cautiously before acting on the matter as DMK is a valuable ally in the South for the UPA government. Acting against A Raja is seen as a threat to the crucial alliance, especially since the M Karunanidhi-led party continues to assert that the Telecom Minister is innocent.

"He (Raja) is not a criminal. We are not guilty. He just went by the procedures set by his predecessors Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie of the previous NDA Government. What is wrong in that? They came up with 'first come, first served' policy," the DMK chief told reporters in Chennai.

OneIndia News