No control over corruption: PM Manmohan Singh
The issues of rising commodity prices and threats to internal security were termed paramount among his, many challenges. He also said, “we are better prepared to deal with acts of terror" and mentioned that “his government deserves some credit" for their efforts.
On
the
2G
scam:
Playing
a
rather
safe
stand
and
sure
of
not
being
overtly
critical
of
his
tainted
telecom
minister's
role
in
the
spectrum.
On
being
asked
about
the
point
on
the
PM's
intimation
to
Raja
way
back
in
Nov
2007
on
the
discrepancies
in
the
spectrum
allocation
and
the
allegations
that
Raja
disregarded
the
PMs
thoughts
on
the
issue.
Dr
Singh
said,
“Who
got
the
licences...
how
FCFS
was
implemented...this
was
never
discussed
with
me
nor
was
it
brought
to
the
Cabinet.
This
was
exclusively
Telecom
Minister's
decision."
Dr Singh also mentioned Raja's response to his queries and said that auctioning of the spectrum was not a prevalent practice then. The PM said that the operating protocols were agreed upon by either TRAI or other telecom departments and ministries. The PM added, “I did not feel that I was in a position to insist that auction must be insisted."
Raja's response according to the PM was, "he (Raja) also said that if we had auction it would not give a level playing field for the new comers because the existing players have got the spectrum free of charge upto a certain mega hertz.
"And therefore he said the TRAI's advice, the Telecom Commission's advice and his (Raja's) own view was that auctions are not the right way forward as far as 2G spectrum is concerned and he also mentioned in a subsequent letter that he is agreeable to auction 3G Spectrum but with regard to 2G spectrum he was very clear that we should stay with the then existing approach."
On why Raja was inducted into the cabinet yet again after the scam broke loose, he said that there are chances in a coalition government that one will have to make certain partnerships will alliances. He said, “At that moment, there was no reason to feel that anything wrong had been done."
OneIndia News
(With inputs from PTI)