2G scam: 'Improper that CAG mad report public, says Congress

New Delhi, Jan 11 (ANI): Defending the recent claims of Union Communications and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal in the 2G-spectrum scam, the Congress Party on Tuesday said it was improper for the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) to make the 2G report public before it was tabled in Parliament.

"CAG went public with the report on November 16, when it should have been tabled on the floor of the House and gone to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). The arguments they themselves put in the public are being rebutted, there are now talking about propriety," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwari.

Sibal on Friday challenged the CAG's report on the 2G spectrum scam, saying the figure of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore is utterly erroneous.

"Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) figure of Rs. 1.76 lakh crore is utterly erroneous. The losses were much lower and that over Rs. 100 crore had been recovered after the government sent out notices," he told reporters.

Kapil Sibal, however, said he respected the CAG, but was extremely pained at the methodology adopted by CAG for arriving at 2G spectrum (loss) figures that have no basis.

The Minister said he agreed with the CAG on two counts - one, that there was something wrong with the rollout of the telecom policy and two, that there was criminal culpability and which is why the CBI, under the Supreme Court, was investigating the matter.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in a report held former Union Minister of Communications and Information Technology A. Raja responsible for causing losses estimated at a whopping rupees 1.76 trillion to the exchequer in 2G telecom spectrum allotments to favoured operators without any auction bids. (ANI)