It was to ensure that departments spoke with one voice
Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has written an explanatory note to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that the controversial Finance Ministry document was actually an inter-Ministerial background paper, prepared with the help of several departments, to ensure that different government representatives, summoned to give evidence on the 2G spectrum allocation issue, would adopt a common position.
Official sources said Mr. Mukherjee's explanatory note also stressed that since the document, produced after a series of meetings convened by the Cabinet Secretariat and attended by officials from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), and the Ministries of Finance, Telecom and Law, was only a background paper, it could not be used as evidence in a court of law. Indeed, the Finance Ministry document, dated March 25, 2011, describes itself as “Office Memorandum” /Sub: Allocation and pricing of 2G spectrum/ A copy of basic facts prepared on allocation and pricing of 2G spectrum is enclosed.”
The need for such a background note was felt, the sources said, in January 2011, after Home Minister P. Chidambaram made some public statements saying he had favoured the auction route: the Prime Minister felt such statements not only created confusion, but with officials and Ministers being summoned to give evidence on the 2G issues in a variety of fora, ranging from Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which was already looking at the matter, to various courts of law, it was imperative that the government speak with one voice. It was at this point that the Opposition parties were also clamouring for a Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G.
The meetings convened by the Cabinet Secretariat began with key officials from the PMO, and the Ministries of Finance, Telecom and Law in attendance. The group held more than 10 sittings, and those who attended included T.K.A. Nair, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister and Vini Majahan, Joint Secretary in the PMO. The draft note that emerged was then sent to the Finance Ministry for finalisation: it was then trimmed and the final document, signed by Dr. P.G.S. Rao, Deputy Director in the Infrastructure and Investment Division of the Finance Ministry, was despatched to Ms. Mahajan at the PMO. Technically, therefore, the sources said, it was not a note emanating from the Finance Ministry – it only finalised it after receiving inputs from all those departments that had played a role in the decision to adopt the licence route in the 2G spectrum allocation matter.
Meanwhile, Mr. Chidambaram met the Prime Minister at a lunch hosted by the latter in honour of the former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, at which several others were present. Mr. Mukherjee returned to the capital late on Wednesday evening from Kolkata and drove straight to North Block, but it appeared that he would meet the Prime Minister only on Friday, before he again returns to Kolkata to attend the Durga Puja festivities there. Dr. Singh will be away in Sikkim on Thursday to meet the victims of the recent earthquake there, and review the rehabilitation work.
PTI reports:
Seeking to find a way to defuse the crisis, Union Ministers P.K. Bansal, V. Narayanasamy and Rajiv Shukla met Mr. Mukherjee at his residence on Wednesday night. There was no official word on what transpired at the meeting.
Keywords: 2G case, CBI probe, Finance Ministry note, Pranab reaction, Chidambaram, Manmohan Singh
Thanks to Hindu for posting all the reports for readers to directly access and get the first hand information. I read the whole of CAG report, PAC report and the Letter from MoF on 2G with an open mind.
Here is what is my opinion as I shared in facebook.2006 - My avg monthly mobile amount was Rs. 600. 2011 - My avg monthly mobile amount is Rs. 230. 2006 - Me, my father & brother had mobile connection (only 3 in whole family). 2011 - Every adult in the family has mobile connection (8 conn) 2006 - Hard to contact anyone anytime 2011 - Became easy as almost everyone has mobile 2006 - 12 crore mobile conns in whole of India 2011 - 80+ crore mobile conns in whole of india.
As people argue and auditors suggest, if 2G was auctioned, govt may or may not have got lacks of crores. But, it would not have reached the common man. 3G was autioned, but it is costier to me and I cannot afford. So, I think 122 licences issues by Raja brought brought telecom revolution in India.
Developements in software and telecommunication bring all those fraudulant people before justice. So hereafter every politician will be very careful before doing anything wrong.
After the above explanation properly given by Mr. Pranab, the bone of contention of BJP has become farce...
Hope, the said note was not prepared by an office boy of the finance ministry to just bluntly ignore. Sir, even if it is a background note, had it been considered seriously by the ministry, things would not have gone to such a level. The ministry must accept the mistake and own the responsibility.
We have to reconcile that every other politician will ulitimately support each other.The only result as an Indian I would like to know is that whether a single paise would be deposited in government coffer in 2G case
The media, especially the electronic media, is on a media blitz, as part of its determined bid to save the Home Minister from his present miseries,to attack the BJP which is asking for Mr.Chidambaram's resignation The same media which called A.Raja a scamster from day one, is giving no credence for the Finance Ministry's memorandum to the PMO which avers that Mr.Chidambaram could have prevented the 2G scam if he had stuck on to his original view that the sale of 2G spectrum should be through auction since according to the cabinet decision in force A.Raja had to take decisions along with the then Finance Minister, Mr.Chidambaram. Now the electronic media is certain that there is no criminality involved in the way Mr. Chidambaram agreed with Mr.Raja on spectrum pricing and mode of sale. Will the media be prepared to say now that there is no criminal case against A.Raja either. The electronic media is doing a great disservice to the fourth estate as a whole.
I find it strange that the Government is openly talking of taking a common stand, if and when, any of them where to make submissions, if summoned by the courts or any other authority.It would appear that truth is not so important and only their common stance need be conveyed to these authorities. Stranger that none in the media is not questioning the ethics nor wisdom of the government's bizzare stand. Since when is truth subservient to the common stance adopted by various people where public interest is involved? Would they allow other criminal(s) to collude and come to common grounds, which can be purveyed to various authorities and will this is result in the delivery of justice?
Please, can some one explain whether this attitude of the government is legally tenable. Are they not making us fools? When there is cloud of suspicion, I have seen honest persons making truthful statements to restore confidence, resigning not taking positions until proven innocent etc. Only country where even with little amount of effort can fool Public is INdia, where the Honourable Finance Minister takes a stand of Government talking in 'One Voice' instead of standing behind 'truth' Mistakes over mistakes are making a mockery of not only governance but also Indian public. Do have spine at all..? Literally they are picking loopholes from law books to escape and protect every damn criminal politician involved in 2G.
If the March 25 2011 note sent by the Finance Minister to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the 2G spectrum scam was only a background paper , then why the document was not part of the material provided to PAC by the Finance Ministry ? This itself is ample evidence that the note was deliberately being hid or kept away from the media and public knowledge. Why now, only after RTI revealed the documents, that statements are emerging that "the explnatory note by Pranbji was only a background paper and it could not be used as evidence in a court of law ".
Let the Indian media and citizens of India now decide who is peaking the truth . The evidences are all pouring out .
The Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is reported to have written an explanatory note to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that the controversial Finance Ministry document was actually an inter-Ministerial background paper, prepared with the help of several departments, to ensure that different government representatives, summoned to give evidence on the 2G spectrum allocation issue, would adopt a common position. (Sept, 29). As such the entire ministry is to blamed for the 2G loss. It leaves one to wonder whether the benefits showered on certain private players has the blessings of the Congress ministry as a whole?
Our HM's role is suspect not only in the 2G case, but also the circumstances leading to the appointment of the then CVC, his contested election to the present Lok Sabha, police action in dealing with Baba Ramdev's agitation etc. A holistic approach is needed for while evaluating the situation.
If every one speaks truth, it would automatically be one voice. Much respected PM himself had spoken in many voices. One thing is very clear: PM, Pranab,P.C-all lost people's confidence. 2G scam is a joint work done by Cong and DMK.
More truth will come out. Let there be total transparency and let the people of the country know what is what. Rule of law be applicable to all. People want a corruption free Govt. The main opposition party BJP wants take electoral benefit from this. The vote for Cash may may reveal more about BJP and others.
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