Congress lashes out at CAG

New Delhi, Jan 11 (PTI) The Congress today lashed outat the Comptroller and Auditor General over its handling ofthe report on the 2G spectrum issue, accusing it of violatingcanons of Parliamentary propriety.

"The CAG after holding a live press conference on 2GSpectrum issue is now advising MPs not to comment on itbeacuse the matter is being considered by PAC. It is an exoticlogic that after going live with presumptive losses containedin CAG report in flagrant violation of canons of Parliamentarypropriety, now CAG is resorting to argument of propriety,"party spokesperson Manish Tewari told reporters here.

He was responding to questions on CAG statementyesterday that it stood by its report on 2G spectrumallocation after Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal contended thatthe auditor''s projection of Rs 1.76 lakh crore as presumptiveloss was "utterly erroneous".

The CAG spokesperson had also referred to rules inParliamentary procedures and practices that prohibit anyofficial, MP or any member of Public Accounts Committee (PAC)from commenting on any subject which is under consideration ofthe PAC.

"That is why there is no comment from the CAG (onSibal''s statement)", the spokesperson had said.

Tewari said he found nothing wrong in Sibal''sremarks. "In furtherance of their own mandate that theirconclusions should be questioned, the same is being done inpublic domain," the Congres spokesperson said.

"First of all CAG went public with the report, when itshould have been tabled on the floor of Parliament and wouldhave automatically gone for the consideration of the PAC." PTISPG AMR