Raja slammed for ignoring PM's advice

New Delhi, Dec 2: Tainted Telecom Minister, A Raja is under fire again this time from the Supreme Court for ignoring PM's advice on the 2G spectrum allocation issue.

The Supreme Court in its findings reveal that Raja had virtually ignored the PM's letter on this regard. After receiving letter from Law Minister for referring the matter to EGoM (Empowered Group of Ministers) and with the Prime Minister also asking him (Raja) to wait on the issue, why was it not done? It is all the more reason why you should have stopped," the court observed.

"Prima facie it appears that the Minister showed disrespect to the Prime Minister. The DoT (Department of Telecommunication) skipped the procedure and brushed aside the recommendation," the court said.

Raja in his defence said, "I may be guilty of various sins but not guilty of showing disrespect to the Prime Minister," Raja told the court. The Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium divulged that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and and Law Minister Veerappa Moily had reservations over the 2G spectrum allocation process.

He was further questioned on taking the Law Ministers out-of-context advice seeking the Attorney General's opinion on 2G spectrum allocation.

The Supreme Court also enquired with the Solicitor General on why the Department of Telecommunication was in such haste in issuing notification of January 10, 2008 in revising the cut off dates, the Solicitor General replied that the DoT should have been more transparent. Raja faces flak as he claims to have abided by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendations in allocation of 2G spectrum.

OneIndia News