BJP, CPI-M seek reply from PM on apex court’s observation

NEW DELHI - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Tuesday sought an answer from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh over the Supreme Court’s observation on his “silence” on a plea seeking action against the then communications minister A. Raja over the 2G spectrum scam.

“The prime minister is dutybound to tell the nation about the inaction in not responding to letter of (former MP) Subramanian Swamy,” former BJP president Venkaiah Naidu said here.

CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia said that the Supreme Court’s observation was correct.

“The way 2G spectrum has been allotted at 2001 prices… the loss to exchequer was known after 3G auction. The PM knew about it but remained quiet,” Acharia told IANS.

“Compromise with corruption is not good,” Acharia said.

Another CPI-M leader, Sitaram Yechury, said the Prime Minister’s Office should get its act together.

The Congress, however, said that it was premature to comment on the Supreme Court observation without knowing the entire context. “It is too early to comment. Without knowing the context in which the Supreme Court made observation, it will not be proper to comment,” Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said.

He said the party and the government will analyse the apex court observation and then respond to it.

The Supreme Court Tuesday took exception to the 15-month “silence” of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Swamy’s plea seeking sanction to initiate proceedings against Raja over the 2G spectrum allocation.