Karat reiterates demand for scrapping Devas-Antrix deal

Bangalore, Feb 13 (PTI) CPI (M) today made a fresh demandfor scrapping the S-band spectrum deal between Bangalore-basedDevas Multimedia Private Limited and ISRO''s commercial arm,Antrix Corporation.

"The agreement was signed in 2005 and the Prime Minister''sOffice (PMO) was very well aware of the details. However, ithas been keeping silent," CPIM General Secretary Prakash Karattold reporters here.

CPIM was not satisfied with placing the Space Commission''sproposal to annul the deal before the Cabinet Committee onsecurity, he said.

Devas is a firm with investments from the US and Germanyand "when such is the matter, how can Antrix of Indian SpaceResearch Organisation sign such a deal?" he asked.

"The Prime Minister should first answer as to how ithappened, that too under the nose of PMO," Karat said.

Replying to a question about ISRO Chairman K Radhakrishnanoffering to quit on the issue, Karat said, "We are notagainst ISRO...it was Antrix which flouted the rules".