BJP demands shifting Raja from the Communications Ministry

New Delhi, July 17 (UNI) Accusing the UPA of becoming synonymous with corruption, the BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the multi-crore BSNL tender scam which allegedly was designed to the swindle organisation to the extent of Rs 10,000 crore and demanded shifting Communications Minister A Raja from the Ministry.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should take into cognisance the letter of Mr Raja's predecessor Dayanidhi Maran accusing an NRI businessman and some vested interests (Communications Minister) of trying to stunt the BSNL growth.

Mr Raja maintains that Mr Maran had planned to make the BSNL poorer by Rs 10,000 crore by seeking to pay 107 dollars for GSM connection in months after acquiring the same for 69 dollars for the MTNL, another public sector company. Even if the difference for an urban and rural connection was factored, the approved rate was 'phenomenally high' and the issue deserved to be probed. Since Mr Maran has made allegation against Mr Raja of attempting to stifle the BSNL's growth in connivance with an NRI businessman, he should be kept away from the ministry till things were cleared, Mr Javadekar urged.

Dr Singh should muster courage and act on an issue of national importance and save the BSNL from political interference in day-to-day affairs and corruption. Its mobile telephony had shrank from 32 per cent to 21 per cent because of delayed infrastructure expansion.

UNI