The comments by a former official of CAG over the report on 2G spectrum allocation on Friday kicked up a row with Congress President Sonia Gandhi suggesting that BJP had been exposed while the government demanded answers from Parliament’s PAC chief Murli Manohar Joshi over his alleged role.
Mr. Joshi, a senior BJP leader, rejected allegations by R P Singh, former Director General, Posts and Telecommunications in CAG, that he had tried to influence the outcome of the 2G report and questioned why the official had not spoken about it in Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when he appeared before it.
“Yes, certainly I think so,” said Ms. Gandhi when reporters here asked whether BJP had been “exposed” by Mr. Singh’s comments.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said Mr. Joshi as also Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) should clear the air on the issue.
“The issues raised by R P Singh, former DG, P&T, in CAG are very germane. What is extremely important is that in May 2010 when the draft report was prepared, the loss was quantified at Rs 2,645 crore, but in November 2010 when the report was presented in Parliament, this loss jumped to Rs 1.76 lakh crore. How did this leap of faith take place?” Mr. Tewari told reporters.
Giving a twist to the allocation row, Mr. Singh has said a report prepared by him contained no losses on account of 2G spectrum allocation and questioned CAG’s estimates of presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.
“After completing the audit of Ministry of Telecom, which was under my direct charge, I prepared a draft audit report covering each and every aspect ... My report did not contain any loss figure,” he had said on Thursday.
Mr. Tewari wanted to know as to who was responsible for increasing the presumptive loss figures and said this issue should be addressed by CAG.
Keywords: 2G spectrum allocation, CAG report, presumptive loss figures, R.P. Singh allegation, Murli Manohar Joshi, PAC, UPA scams, Sonia Gandhi
The present leaders and leaders's leader of the Congress party have brought the party of Gandhi and Nehru to an unenviable position in the political arena? Even a large section of the media which has been almost reverential to the Congress party hithereto has started opening its eyes!
Assuming for a moment PAC Chairman asked for this investigation, what is wrong?
What is at stake is openness in governance. PAC sessions are televised in the UK. In USA, it is a long standing protocol that legislators can demand investigations by the Auditor General. And, his office GAO is the final arbitrator for government contract disputes. In India, PAC meetings are closed to the media and the public. And, The Indian Audit and Accounts department is vilified by the powers-that-be. Incidentally, Mr.RP Singh has been overruled. That is to it. His earlier depositions
before PAC were different. There is no credibility to what he says as an after-
thought. All this is an orchestration for undermining the autonomy of the IAAD.
Never in the histroy of independent India the ruling party had indulged in this kind of mud slinging as is being done and that too against the Constitutional authority Does this Sonia Gandhi know what is meant like Constitution separation of powers
etc. Why these cronies of Sonia house hold keep quiet all these days The Ministers had taken oath to defend the Constitution and not Nehru family Is she an authority on Constitution like Ivor Jennings? She has not spoken a single word in Parliament all these
9 years after enjoying the privileges of more than a Cabinet Minister
Once again Congress party has proved that they are experts
in Manipulating and distorting facts. It is high time
corrupt congress party along with its corrupt allies are
removed from the power and let them be out of power at
least for next 10years so that they can cleanse themselves
and the party transforms with purity and honesty.
gopu
Would UPA-II come clear on its nexus with stalwarts of Indian market? From changing portfolios of ministers to a flop-show in recent 2G-auction, we can see it as clear as water.
Was R P Singh sleeping till now? Govt is fooling us just to divert attention...
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