Seeks probe into 'presumptive loss' as spectrum was sold far below reserve price. Also wants ex-CAG probed: 'For whom did he effect regime change?'
Published Aug 04, 2022 | 8:44 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 04, 2022 | 8:45 AM
Apart from questioning the recent 5G auctions, DMK MP A Raja also alleged that then CAG Vinod Rai committed "fraud" in the 2G 'scam' case. (A Raja/ Facebook)
For all the years he faced bitter attacks by the BJP over alleged corruption in the 2G spectrum case, DMK’s A Raja seemed to have a rather stinging comeback on Wednesday, 3 August.
Using the same stick that the BJP used to beat him in the 2G case — the “presumptive loss/estimated cost” narrative — the former Union telecom minister demanded a probe into the mega 5G spectrum auction that ended this week under the Narendra Modi-led Union government.
Raja, who was accused of rigging the 2G spectrum allocation in 2007-08, had to resign as telecom minister over those allegations, and was arrested and served 15 months in jail.
In 2017, he was acquitted by a CBI special court which castigated the agency for having “miserably failed to prove any charge against any of the accused”.
At a press briefing in New Delhi, the DMK MP questioned why the 5G spectrum was auctioned only for ₹1.5 lakh crore when the Union government itself had set the reserve price at ₹4-5 lakh crore .
“Was the estimation of the Union government incorrect? Did they get these numbers from thin air? Or did the government collude with certain corporate companies? All this needs to be investigated,” said Raja, his vocabulary akin to the BJP’s when it went after him and DMK MP Kanimozhi over the 2G spectrum allocation.
The bidding for India’s biggest-ever spectrum sale ended on 1 August, fetching a little over ₹1.5 lakh crore for the exchequer. Reliance Jio emerged as the top bidder, lapping up spectrum worth ₹88,078 crore.
The former Union minister went on to compare the efficiency of 2G and 5G spectrum, and the alleged discrepancies in the pricing — once again using arguments similar to those used by Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India Vinod Rai, whose calculation of “presumptive loss” became the cornerstone of BJP’s campaign against the UPA government.
“When I (as telecom minister) gave a quotation for 30 megahertz of 2G allocation based on the recommendations of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the then CAG Vinod Rai gave a report saying that there was a loss of ₹1.76 lakh crore.
“That was for 30 megahertz. Now what they have auctioned is 51 gigahertz for ₹1.5 lakh crore. Compare both in terms of efficiency and quantity,” Raja charged, driving home the point that the 5G spectrum was sold a very lower price.
“Where has the money gone? Where has the mistake taken place? This government has to investigate it,” Raja added.
“This also lays the ground for an investigation into the ‘fraud’ committed by then CAG Vinod Rai to effect a regime change using the 2G ‘scam’,” claimed Raja.
“For whom did Vinod Rai commit this fraud? Who were the others behind him who used the 2G case as a tool to effect a regime change?
“The current government needs to investigate this. If they don’t, a new government will come to power and at least that government should probe the matter and tell the country the whole truth. This is a mega fraud,” the DMK MP added.
In a tweet, Manish Tiwari, former Union minister and Congress leader, asked: “In Nov 2010 former C&AG Vinod Rai tarnished India’s image by alleging a presumptive loss of 1.76 lakh Crores in allocation of 2-G spectrum. 12 years later for far superior 5-G technology Govt could get only 1.5 lakh Crores in auction. Whose agent was Rai? (sic)”
In Nov 2010 Former C&AG Vinod Rai tarnished India’s image by alleging a presumptive loss of 1.76 lakh Crores in allocation of 2-G spectrum.
12 years later for far superior 5-G technology Govt could get only 1.5 lakh Crores in auction.Whose agent was Rai? https://t.co/dxnldbGBV0— Manish Tewari (@ManishTewari) August 2, 2022
The 2G ‘scam’ was used by the BJP to turn the country’s mood against the then UPA government led by Dr Manmohan Singh.
Due to the uproar over the case, Raja had to resign as Union Minister. Apart from Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi was also arrested in connection with the scam.
In Tamil Nadu, the party suffered a huge electoral setback in 2011, mainly due to the corruption charges levelled against the top DMK leaders in the 2G case. The series of events related to the 2G ‘scam’ led to the DMK quitting the Congress-led UPA alliance in 2013.
However, in 2017, a special court acquitted Raja, Kanimozhi and 33 others.
