‘Unwarranted inferences have been drawn from January 23, 2008 noting’
The Prime Minister's Office on Sunday denied reports that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh overlooked the matter related to issuance of 2G licences and spectrum pricing in 2008, and clarified that directions issued to the Department of Telecom (DoT) were “intended to create a level-playing field between the existing operators and new entrants [on the issue of spectrum allocation].”
Referring to a noting of January 23, 2008 of the Private Secretary to the Prime Minister that “PM wants this informally shared with the Department [of Telecom]. [He] does not want a formal communication and wants the PMO to be at arms length,” the PMO said: “It [the noting] did not deal with either issues relating to manner of grant of licence or charges for spectrum up to the threshold level” that each operator must have in order to function with a minimum level of efficiency.
“A number of unwarranted inferences have been drawn from this noting without considering the issue that was being examined and the context in which these directions were conveyed. In particular, an impression is sought to be created that the noting was in response to the Prime Minister being informed of the steps being taken which he knew were inappropriate but he looked the other way … The noting under question can in no way be construed to mean that the Prime Minister or his office looked the other way on matters relating to the grant of licence or spectrum charges,” the PMO said on the eve of the monsoon session of Parliament.
Pointing out that the PMO had only suggested to the DoT the method of spectrum allocation to existing as well as new operators, the PMO further said: “It was well known at that time that there were conflicting interests between existing operators and new entrants. The Prime Minister felt that this matter required detailed examination and deliberation by the Department of Telecom in consultation with TRAI and others. He felt that, under the circumstances, it was not appropriate for the Prime Minister's Office to pronounce on the matter till the subject had been carefully considered by the administrative ministry [DoT] in consultation with TRAI and other concerned departments. Therefore, it was sent as an informal suggestion to the Department of Telecom for consideration.”
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister had cautioned the Opposition parties not to “pre-judge” the 2G scam as the matter was before the court. “It [the 2G licence and spectrum allocation case] should be left to be decided by the court and Parliament should not pre-judge the issue,” he told journalists after an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.
Keywords: Monsoon Session, Manmohan Singh, 2G spectrum scam
What an irony. PM issues instructions. His deputies rush to clarify what he meant by his instructions when the matter is raised by none other than his own ex-Minister in the Court. And the people of this country should believe all this junk!
Not one but many accused are showing fingers at the Head of the Cabinet and the PMO is trying to paint the PM the most honest.
It is a tragedy that in free India that so much damage is being done by so few decision makers who are totally bankrupt in values, morals and ethics.
The very fact that the PMO's note contained the words, "PMO to be kept at arm's length" means that it knew there was some thing fishy in the entire deal. Instead of being evasive, on an issue of national importance the PM should have been pro-active and prevented corruption. This 'tail clear' attitude is not going to help the country.
This is bureaucratese at its best. PM or PMO does not want to intervene/interfere in the Administrative Ministry's working unless there is something wrong. Isn't this non-intervention the cause for the humungous loss to the National Exchequer? If it isn't 'hands off' then it must be 'brains off!'
The PMO note is very evasive. Why did the PM allow the DOT to skip the Group of Ministers scrutiny, if he was really concerned that it should be consulted with TRAI and others. Who are the others? FM Pranab Mukarji says he had no share in it, yet he is the head of the GOM. The FM and GOM had liberally cleared foreign majority investments in the fake letter pad companies who were preferred for 2G licenses. The SBI had granted a loan of Rs.10,000 crores instantly to those fake companies. It is hog wash to say that all these happened without the consent of people who matter at the top. It is also obvious that the CBI. is under pressure to narrow down the scope of investigations and finish it off soon with a drama rehearsal.
Mr. Manmohan Singh should have already taken moral responsibility and quit office long time ago. He should not see this as a demand from the opposition. The Nation, I repeat not the opposition, expects a man of high integrity to come out clean by quitting. Lessons have to be drawn from no less a person than LAL BAHADUR SHASTRI. Hope PM is listening.
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