How did Tata get UASL without auction, asks Chandrasekhar

Continuing the war of words with Tata group chairman Ratan Tata on the issue of 2G spectrum allocation scam, industrialist-politician Rajiv Chandrasekhar on Thursday sought to know how the company got the Unified Access Services Licence (including cellular) with spectrum in new circles without going through the auction process.

Mr. Chandrasekhar was reacting to Mr. Tata's statement that he was acting at the behest of some political interests to embarrass Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the United Progressive Alliance government.

Mr. Chandrasekhar also wanted to know the role played by the former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India chief, Pradeep Baijal, in giving such licences.

The independent Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka pointed out that after retirement Mr. Baijal was working with Noesis, a firm owned by corporate lobbyist Niira Radia, that provides consultancy to the Tata group.

Taking a dig at Ms. Radia without naming her, the MP claimed that the lobbyist's links with the perpetrators of dual technology was already in the public domain. What was the need or rationale of dual technology policy other than ensuring that companies such as the Tatas received 2G spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices bypassing over 373 applicants who were waiting for over three weeks?

The time had come for the country to learn the truth about the goings on in the telecom sector and the need for all the telecom companies that had benefitted unfairly to come clean, he said, seeking a public debate on the issue.