2G scam: AIADMK leaders protest to demand Raja's arrest

Perambalur, Dec 27 (ANI): Scores of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders and supporters staged a hunger strike here on Monday demanding the arrest of tainted former Telecom Minister A. Raja for his alleged involvement in the 2G spectrum scam.

Incidentally, Perambalur is the native hometown of Raja and considered a strong hold of the AIADMK's rival Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), currently heading the Tamil Nady Government and also a coalition partner in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government at the Centre.

AIADMK Secretary (Literary Wing) Vaigai Selvan said Raja has now become a disgrace for the entire nation.

"In the 2G spectrum allocation irregularities, this leader from Perambalur had a major share. He is not an honest person. Earlier, he had cheated the gullible locals of Perambalur district by manipulating land records for personal gain," said Selvan.

"As such under the leadership of Amma (J Jayalaithaa), we of AIADMK are staging a mass protest against Raja, who has become a disgrace for the entire nation," he added.

Further slamming Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) supremo M Karunanidhi, Selvan said Raja reaped it rich from the telecom scam, as he had the support of corrupt Karunanidhi.

"Raja must be convicted. He could not have acted without support from the corrupt Karunanidhi who is well known for taking a slice of government contracts as commission. So AIADMK has organised this crusade demanding his trial and conviction," he added.

Raja was forced to resign last month after a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) faulted Raja for undervaluing spectrum to favour companies who were largely ineligible for 2G spectrum, and added that the government had probably lost Rs.1.76 lakh crore in estimated revenue. (ANI)