The CPI(M) on Thursday said the Supreme Court order cancelling the 2G spectrum licences is a “strong indictment” of the government and asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a call on its fallout as it has exposed the “bluff” on the UPA-II’s claims.
Demanding the resignation of Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for claiming that there was no loss to the public exchequer, senior CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu said, “The Prime Minister, who is known as a paragon of virtue, will have to take a call on the fallout of the judgement which has called the bluff on the government’s claims on the 2G scam.”
The verdict “absolutely puts the government under cloud.
The Opposition and CPI(M)’s charges have been upheld by the Supreme Court and earlier by the CAG, even though the Prime Minister’s constant refrain has been that there has been absolute transparency. The court has totally rejected this.”
In a statement, the party’s Polit Bureau said the order was a “strong indictment of the UPA government and, in particular, the present Telecom Minister who has constantly refused to cancel the licences and held that there has been no revenue loss. Mr. Kapil Sibal should resign forthwith.
“In the light of the judgement, the Prime Minister is duty bound to break his silence and answer to the country. The CPI (M) demands that the government immediately implement the judgement.”
Terming the verdict as “historic”, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat said it was a “strong indictment” of the government and of those “who had argued that illegal and unconstitutional steps taken by the government be defended in the name of increasing investments by corporates and multinationals in India”.
