Telecom Minister Raja Resigns From Cabinet

[kesav 127]

Telecom Minister Raja resigns from Cabinet

Ahead of an expected statement in Parliament on Monday, Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja has handed over his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The development follows hectic parleys between some senior Congress leaders and DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi during the day. By evening on Sunday, the DMK leader advised Mr. Raja to submit his resignation.

This brings to a close one chapter of the drama that involved allegations of corruption in 2G spectrum allocation, although Mr. Raja continued to maintain that he was following the policy laid down by the previous National Democratic Alliance government and was not guilty of any wrong doing.

Raja: I will prove my innocence

Soon after tendering his resignation, Mr. Raja told journalists here that he had done what he had been advised to do by “my leader,” that is, DMK chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. Mr. Raja said he was confident that his innocence would be established. “My conscience is clear and I have done nothing wrong.”

'Tele-density had risen'

Mr. Raja pointed out that through his efforts in the Ministry tele-density had risen from about 300 million users, when he took charge, to over 700 million now. The rates per call for mobile telephone users had also fallen dramatically from Rs.1.60 to just 40 paise or less, with huge reductions in outstation telephone call charges.

The CAG report on the spectrum allocation, sent to President Pratibha Patil for her signature, is expected to be presented to Parliament on Monday or the next couple of days.

“Let PAC see report”

Senior Congress leaders have so far maintained that serious adverse remarks were made by the CAG even in its report in 2000 on the telecom sector when the then NDA government waived committed licence fees and allowed companies in this sector to migrate to a system of revenue sharing. At that time too, there were allegations of loss to the exchequer of thousands of crores of rupees. “In any case, the CAG report will be seen by the Public Accounts Committee chaired by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi,” a senior Congress leader in the government pointed out.

The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Left parties have welcomed the resignation of Mr. Raja, but there is no word yet on what will happen in Parliament that has been stalled since November 10.

Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

Mr. Karunanidhi said in Chennai that Mr. Raja was advised to quit with a view to safeguarding the country's parliamentary democracy.

Everyone had the responsibility to protect and nourish the dignity and neutrality of parliamentary democracy in India. If this principle suffered any blow, it was the duty of all to safeguard the principle, Mr. Karunanidhi said in a two-page statement issued late on Sunday night.

Reiterating that in the allocation of 2G spectrum, Mr. Raja had adhered to the procedures that were followed since 1999, the DMK leader said that despite offering such explanations several times, some were bent upon demanding Mr. Raja's resignation and disrupting the proceedings of Parliament. “A handful of people, not many, are enough to create this kind of confusion. And these people have planned to create a situation of bringing everything to a standstill by blocking the working of the administration of the United Progressive Alliance and functioning of Parliament.”

He noted that for the past one year allegations were being made against Mr. Raja and Parliament was getting disrupted over the issue.

Mr. Karunanidhi described Mr. Raja as one who had been following the path of E.V. Ramasamy, C.N. Annadurai and B.R. Ambedkar and who had demonstrated a sense of duty, fairness and straightforwardness.

source :: http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article886185.ece?homepage=true

It's one of the darkest days of Indian Democracy.

Money power has won over crystal clear truth.

It's saddening to note that truth can be subdued with power of paid-media and unruly behaviours in Parliament.

I hope one day Truth will prevail......

Edited November 14, 2010 by kesav

[thilak.kmb 19]

Unruly behavior of MPs; supported by the irresponsible media; public with short memory; Short sighted politicians; let us wake up to the reality.

[M.S.Rao 64]

GOOD NEWS

[ananth001 21]

Telecom Minister Raja resigns from Cabinet

Good riddance... let's all hope they don't put a bigger clown in his place. Govt shud bring in somebody like Sam Pitroda to handle telecom

[HetalDP 947]

Good riddance... let's all hope they don't put a bigger clown in his place. Govt shud bring in somebody like Sam Pitroda to handle telecom

Calling Sam Pitroda in this Place is like Punishing him on a Dirty Place. hehe

[sgiitk 32]

Was long overdue. Thank God the DMK mafia tactics did not work. Heard that following Obama's visit - Singh is King, and put his foot down. I only hope the Congress Bureau of Investigation does not paper it over.

Thanks to the fourth estate. That is our only hope!

[csmart 472]

nothing gonna happen to Raja... very strong backing of Karunanidhi and telcos.. ever seen any politician getting punished for corruption? CBI and courts in govt hand, nothing can happen..

[sgiitk 32]

@csmart; Unfortunate, but I have to agree with you. This is not the first scam nor will it be the last. Every time there is a big scam, a few months later there is a bigger one the the previous one is forgotten.

Also the media loses interest after a few weeks.

[sougatadc 358]

It was really overdue. Political hooliganism from Karunanidhi couldn't succeed, this is good.

[::Hitesh:: 1,763]

LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE ! LIKE !

[mihirf2003 7]

wats the point.. .damage is done..... after some months all will go under the table and raja wll again be the minister.....thats INDIA.....

[vishalmcp 8]

wats the point.. .damage is done..... after some months all will go under the table and raja wll again be the minister.....thats INDIA.....

YUP.... Thats our INDIA...... nothing happens to our so called white collar corrupted Ministers..... after all we the common man suffer........

[kkdeep 6]

Finally!!. Hopefully they put a good person in his place who can take broadband to the next level.

[rajanmehta 4,056]

Minister Kapil Sibal was today given the additional charge of the telecom ministry by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a development that takes the portfolio away from DMK at least for the time being.

Official sources said Sibal will hold the charge of the Ministry held by A Raja, who yesterday resigned facing allegations of scam in 2G spectrum allocation.

The arrangement is seen to be temporary in view of the ongoing Parliament session when issues related to the ministry are to be handled at the senior level, particularly at a time when the ministry is facing allegations of corruption of huge magnitude.

By tradition, a reshuffle of the Council of Ministers is not undertaken during a Parliament session.

Sibal, a renowned lawyer-turned-politician, was a week earlier given the additional charge of Ministries of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, which fell vacant after incumbent Prithviraj Chavan was made Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Times of India

[commonman 228]

Good riddance... let's all hope they don't put a bigger clown in his place. Govt shud bring in somebody like Sam Pitroda to handle telecom

Calling Sam Pitroda in this Place is like Punishing him on a Dirty Place. hehe

Sam Pitroda is currently advisor in the Planning Commission. He can serve the country better in that position than being a Minister.

[SumitVerma 187]

Itna Paisa Kamaa Liya, Ab Toh Desh Nikala Bhi De Dein Toh Bhi Koi Farak Nahi Padega

[kesav 127]

Thanks to the fourth estate. That is our only hope!

Hell with "fourth estate".

The power of free media is overshadowed by paid media.........

It's a sin for the country and democracy.....

Minister Kapil Sibal was today given the additional charge of the telecom ministry by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a development that takes the portfolio away from DMK at least for the time being.

I feel it's just a temporary arrangement.

Kapil Sibal is very good minister with high reputation but I still prefer him in HRD since HRD is much vital and more important for citizens than telecom.

Let us wait and watch for the new minister who will probably be announced only after parliament session.

[Greatest 55]

Hope Mr. Sibal does something for the betterment of the consumers in the wireless broadband space...

[rajanmehta 4,056]

Why hasn't CBI questioned Raja, asks SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday kept up the pressure for a thorough investigation into the 2G spectrum scam, expressing surprise that the CBI has not yet questioned former telecom minister A Raja and his secretary despite the report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) holding them culpable.

As the petitioner's advocate pointed to repeated references to Raja in the CAG report, linking him to the irregularities in allotment of scarce spectrum at throwaway 2001 prices, the Bench said, "The CBI is showing us that it has recorded 5,000 calls and seized 8,000 documents. This is beating around the bush. Has the minister been examined? The CAG report is replete with his involvement in the entire episode. Has this gentleman been questioned?"

It added, "CAG enjoys the same position as President, Parliament and Supreme Court in the Constitution. If such an important constitutional authority gives a finding, then any reasonable officer will question the minister and his secretary." It asked the CBI to submit by Tuesday a status report on the status of investigation and also asked why the agency chose to register its FIR against unknown persons when the Central Vigilance Commission clearly named two companies -- Unitech and Swan Telecom -- in its October 12, 2009 communication to the agency.

Stressing that the two companies, which paid Rs 1,500 and Rs 1,600 crore respectively to get spectrum, sold their stakes for Rs 12,000 crore after a few weeks, the Bench said, "Obviously, anybody would like to know why government did not want to earn this additional Rs 12,000 crore. Prima facie, the amount does not appear small. The CBI should have questioned their officials."

Source: http://timesofindia....how/6991283.cms

[ravi_patent 28]

Foreign Players Must Have Checked Out Their Partners: Sibal

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/11/30/stories/2010113052220700.htm

The Communication and IT Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, said foreign players should have checked the credentials of their Indian partners before picking a stake. “The Government has got nothing to do with that. The foreign players have access to best legal resources here to ascertain facts,” he said.

The Minister said the issue of Swan will be referred to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs to ascertain facts. The CAG had said that Reliance Communications had over 10 per cent stake in Swan at the time of applying for licence which is in violation of the licence conditions.

Asked what action the Ministry was taking against Department of Telecom officials, who allegedly colluded with some of the new operators, Mr Sibal said that he was open to a Supreme Court-monitored probe.

“Our objective is to put in place a policy framework that ensures transparency, justice and equity and ensure stability in realising the full potential of telecommunications. Next few weeks we will be rolling out our long-term policy framework,” Mr Sibal said.

On the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, the Minister said that there are 119 instances where operators may have violated roll-out obligations. This includes not just the new operators that got licences in 2008 but also those that got it in 2006. TRAI had named Vodafone, Tata Teleservices and Aircel among the existing operators that have not met the roll-out obligation. “We hope these actions send out a message to those companies who may be seeking advantage. Time has come for policy that is certain and good for long-term wherein the rule of law is honoured,” Mr Sibal said

so in mr sibals own words ,govt lacks best legal resources,then why do the citizens need a govt.

[Honest 836]

I'm a victim of trial by media: Raja to SC

NEW DELHI: Former telecom minister A. Raja told the Supreme Court Wednesday that he was a victim of trial by media and the "mind-boggling" Rs.1.76 lakh crore loss to the public exchequer in the 2G spectrum allocation as mentioned in the CAG report was "presumptive and subjective" and would not stand judicial scrutiny.

"I stand condemned, charge-sheeted, tried and convicted by the media. My stock is so low that anything I say does not redeem my position," said T.R. Andhyarujina appearing for Raja before an apex court bench of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly.

Raja is one of the respondents in the petition by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) seeking monitoring of the CBI investigation into the 2G spectrum scam by the apex court.

Andhyarujina told the court that his client was not inclined take up any contentious issues with the court and would go by any of its directions.

The senior counsel said there was no indictment and culpability of Raja in the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report. However, "there is a strong indictment of the Department of Telecommunication, and being its head I am accountable", Andhyarujina told the court.

The senior counsel said the CAG report was a "presumptive valuation of mind-boggling loss" which was totally speculative and required a very serious consideration of the court.

The court was told that the 2001 price which was charged for the allocation of the 2G spectrum in 2008 was consistent with the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), which it had stated in 2003 and reiterated in 2005, 2007 and even in 2010.

Andhyarujina said the CAG followed a principle of accounting which is never used for calculating value. The senior counsel said that parameters followed by the CAG were presumptive and speculative.

"What Raja did in 2008 was similarly done by the then telecom minister Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran," the senior counsel told the court. He told the court that 52 licences were issued between 2001 to 2007 on the same basis but they were not questioned.

Andhyarujina said he will not use strong words for the august CAG but maintained that its findings of mind-boggling losses would not stand the test of judicial scrutiny.

Earlier, Andhyarujina told the court that his client was not speaking to the media because the entire matter is sub-judice and is being heard by the apex court. However, Raja's silence should not be construed as some kind of admission of his guilt, the senior counsel told the court.

He told the court that Raja resigned "because under political compulsion you have to take a stand for the party's considerations".

Courtesy : The Economic Times

[Karthik R 246]

Media trial was well intentioned in Ruchika Girhotra case but will always remain a dangerous proportion. Media is not free and very well share the political bias and prejudice of its promoters.