People's Democracy

 

Take Firm Steps on 2G Scam;

PM Should Explain

 

 

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has issued the following statement on November 17

 

THE report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the issue of licenses and allocation of 2G spectrum has confirmed what has been in public knowledge for long. That the government of India suffered a loss of revenue amounting to Rs 1.76 lakh crore makes the telecom scam the biggest corruption case. Not only the former minister A Raja along with other guilty officials be prosecuted, but immediate steps should be taken to undo the damage and recover the lost revenue. 

 

All the companies who have benefited illegally should be asked to pay up the full amount as per the market value of the spectrum allocation. Further, those companies who have got the licenses and spectrum allocation illegally and by violation of the norms, their licenses should be cancelled. Corporate crime cannot be condoned as the UPA government is prone to do so.

 

The Supreme Court has correctly asked why the prime minister delayed responding to the request for permission to prosecute the telecom minister for eleven months. It should be further asked why the prime minister refused to order a probe on the telecom scam for a longer period despite repeated requests. For instance, the CPI(M) leader in the parliament, Sitaram Yechury had written to the prime minister in November 2008 asking for an enquiry. The prime minister should explain  in parliament how this murky affair was allowed to go on for so long.