Cong asks BJP to eschew giving commentary on S-band lease

New Delhi, Feb 10 (PTI) After Prime Minister ManmohanSingh appointed a committee to go into the S-band spectrumlease, Congress today asked the opposition to eschew "giving arunning commentary" on the episode and creating "negativism".

"ISRO chairperson has himself clarified on the issuerelated with the institution. Now government has alsoconstituted a probe committee. As long as that committee doesnot give its report, there should be a complete full stop onthe running commentary on the issue," party spokespersonManish Tewari told reporters.

On BJP questioning the justification of B K Chaturvedi''sappointment as the head of the committee looking into thedeal, Tewari said it was "inapproriate" to say that thisperson or that person''s appointment was not correct.

"As long as the committee does not give its report, itis not correct to comment on the constituion of thecommittee," Tewari said asking the opposition "not to raiseghosts and then slay them."

BJP has claimed that Chaturvedi was one of those who hadapproved the agreement between ISRO''s commercial arm Antrixand Devas Multimedia as Cabinet Secretary in 2005.

"Is it right if decisions taken by some people areinvestigated by the same people," BJP spokesperson NirmalaSitharaman has asked, adding that the party was very worriedabout the "cover up".

Tewari was also opposed to calling the deal a scamasking how can it be called a scam when "no satelite waslaunched, no transponder was leased" but only a contract wasentered into which was later annulled.

"Some people are trying to create negativism," he saidadding that there was no need for further commenting on theissue after the ISRO Chairman explained the decision indetail."

Replying to a volley of question on new developmentsinto the on-going investigation into the 2G Spectrum scamincluding the arrest of Shahid Balwa, Manager of DB Realty,Tewari said, "The investigation process is going on. It isbeing monitored by the Supreme Court. We only want that thewhole truth emerges."

He said the party will react once the court givesdecision and termed it "uncalled for" to react to everyobservation in the case.

Asked about the Supreme Court making various queriesregarding CBI''s action into the 2G issue, Tewari said theSC is monitoring the investigation and "they will obvioulsy beasking questions to agencies."

"Let a chargesheet be filed, let the investigation becompleted, we will respond if there is a need," he said.

Tewari said the issue of Spectrum allocations shouldbe probed since 1999, adding that the country sufferd a lossof RS 60 thousand crore due to NDA government''s policy ofspectrum allotment.