2 G

In the eye of a storm again, the Union Communications and Information Technology Minister, Mr A. Raja, asserts in an interview to The Hindu that he has not deviated from any laid-down policy in the allotment of 2G spectrum. “I have explained this so many times. Now, again the same questions reappear,” he tells in New Delhi.
The alleged leaks from the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) say that you caused a loss of Rs 1.77 lakh crore through your policies of allotment of spectrum, the introduction of new players, and changes made in some licence conditions. Can you explain?
The issues that have been raised can be broadly divided into two categories. First, the alleged substantial loss to the exchequer and secondly, procedural lapses.
The National Telecom Policy, 1999, which was approved by the Union Cabinet and ratified by Parliament, has authorised migration from the Auction Route (NTP 94) to the Revenue Sharing Route (NTP 99). The leaked CAG report says that we should have adopted the Auction Route and taken an arithmetical voyage on the 3G boat. So, the yardstick on which the presumptive loss is arrived at itself is not correct.



2 G -defence act