Raja has every right to be heard, says T.R. Baalu

DMK Parliamentary Party leader T.R. Baalu on Monday claimed that the letter dated February 22, sent by the former Communications Minister and his party colleague, A. Raja, to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, seeking to depose before the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 2G spectrum issue had been forwarded by her to JPC Chairman P.C. Chacko for taking appropriate action.

Mr. Baalu, himself a member of the 20-member JPC, told The Hindu that the DMK fully backed Mr. Raja as he had every right to be heard.

At the next JPC meeting, which might be held this week, DMK representatives — he and Rajya Sabha member Tiruchi Siva— would appeal to Mr. Chacko to accept Mr. Raja’s request.

DMK spokesperson and North Chennai MP T.K.S. Elangovan also said the party fully endorsed Mr. Raja’s view on deposing before the JPC.

CPI national secretary and Rajya Sabha member D. Raja said the JPC should take a view on this issue at the earliest and decide as “all said and done Mr. A. Raja is a sitting Lok Sabha member and he has expressed his desire that his version be heard.”

Sources in the AIADMK, which has one member in the JPC, said the party had not taken a stand on Mr. Raja’s request.