RBI Guv Subbarao quizzes on silence on 2G issue

New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) Parliament''s Public AccountsCommittee today questioned RBI Governor D Subbarao inconnection with 2G spectrum allocation scam as he was askedabout the "silence" in communication with Department ofTelecom on pricing of spectrum during his tenure as FinanceSecretary.

Subbarao, as Finance Secretary, had raised questions overthe entry fee for mobile operators ahead of the spectrumallocations.

In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on the 2Gspectrum issue, the government had said the then FinanceSecretary had raised certain queries on November 27, 2007,regarding the entry fee. A reply to this was given by theTelecom Secretary on November 29, 2007. However, there was nofurther communication on the issue.

Subbarao was asked by the PAC members whether the filepertaining to the 2G spectrum allocation was closed as therewas no further communication. To this, Subbarao is understoodto have replied in the negative.

Members felt the Department of Telecom (DoT) hadvirtually stonewalled attempts by the Finance Ministry on thepricing of spectrum and the issue of technology neutrality asthey were kept out of the terms of reference of the Group ofMinisters on the subject. .