Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

PM must explain SC remarks: Opp

By The Assam Tribune

PATNA/NEW DELHI, Nov 17 � The BJP and CPI(M) today demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Supreme Court�s observations on �alleged inaction and silence� on the plea for sanction for prosecution of ex-Telecom minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, reports PTI.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani also wanted the Prime Minister to immediately respond to the remarks by the court yesterday on the lenghty delay, observing it is for the �first time� in the history of Independent India that the apex court has �pointed fingers� at the Head of a Union Government.

Congress on its part steered clear of the Court observations.

�The Supreme Court has asked the government a question and the government will give an appropriate response tomorrow,� Congress spokesman Manish Tewari said in New Delhi replying to a specific query on the observations.

At the same time, Tewari said it would be inappropriate and uncalled for to second guess anything on this issue.

Advani said he does not remember the Supreme Court raising a question like this in his 60 years of parliamentary career.

He pressed for a JPC probe into the spectrum allocation issue and his demand was also backed by AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa.

�The PM should immediately respond to what the Supreme Court has said on Raja issue,� Advani said.

Advani made these remarks while talking to newsmen in Patna and during an election rally in Sasaram.

He further said, �We are demanding a JPC probe into the issue in Parliament and the government should think on it.

The CPI(M) asked the Prime Minister to explain why a probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam was delayed despite repeated demands by it since 2008.

�The Prime Minister should explain in Parliament how this murky affair was allowed to go on for so long,� the party Politburo said in a statement in New Delhi.

�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�, it said, pointing out that CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury had written to the Prime Minister in November 2008 and had sought an enquiry.

Yechury told reporters he was yet to get a �categorical response� on his communication to the Prime Minister.

Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium, who was appearing for the government, said he will anwser the clarifications sought by the Supreme Court. �We will anwser this in the Court,� he told reporters.

Next Story