Niira Radia speak: A Raja was not keen on Telecom portfolio?

New Delhi, Apr 18: Niira Radia seems to open up Pandora's box of troubles with her explosive revelations on those involved in the multi-crore 2G spectrum scam that is getting bigger than expected.

According to her recent statements to the CBI, Radia said that the kingpin of the scam, A Raja, the Former Telecom Minister was not too keen to take up the coveted post during the cabinet formation following the Lok Sabha elections in Apr-May 2009. Disclosing the clandestine role played by certain parties, Radia also recalled her conversation she had with DMK's Rajya Sabha member K Kanimozhi, during her visit to Delhi with her father K Karunanidhi. Radia stressed that the telecon was nothing to do with Raja grabbing the plump post. Radia also opined that Kanimozhi “was not competent for that big task."

Radia's discussion merely ventured on the likely candidates who will find a place in the cabinet from the DMK. She also stressed on how Raja was not interested in the telecom ministry. Radia is also believed to have held exchanged thoughts with RK Chandolia, Raja"s personal secretary on what portfolios the four DMK MP's will get.

Radia also threw light on the equations between Ministers and industrialists and mentioned Dayanidhi Maran, who handled the Telecom Ministry during 2004-2007 and said, “keeping in view the background of relations between Shri (Dayanidhi) Maran and Tatas (the Tata group, which she represented) I was concerned about the portfolio of Maran for the sake of my clients."

Radia's firm, Vaishnavi Corporate Communications Private Limited in a statement said, “The statements that are being circulated in public are matters of ongoing trials. These matters are sub-judice before the Hon'ble court and in order to uphold the dignity of the Hon'ble court we refrain from making any comments or responding at this stage."

OneIndia News