BJP calls for action, not debate on 2G scam

NEW DELHI - Commenting on Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s appeal to Opposition parties to allow Parliament to function, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday said the 2G spectrum has been debated for long and it is time for action now.

“The 2G spectrum has been debated for long and it’s time for action now. The country awaits an answer,” said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

The BJP leader also questioned the Prime Minister’s studied silence over the issue and asked Dr Manmohan Singh how he plans to remove the stains of corruption levelled against the Government.

Ravi Shankar Prasad also sought an answer about the various scams taking place under the present Government.

Earlier today, breaking his silence amidst the logjam in Parliament, Dr Manmohan Singh promised action against anybody for any ‘wrong thing’ done in the 2G spectrum allocation, and appealed to opposition parties to allow Parliament to function, saying the government is ‘not afraid’ of discussing any issue.

“There should be no doubt in anybody’s mind that if any wrong thing has been done by anybody, he or she will be brought to book,” said Dr Singh.

“Various aspects of the 2G spectrum allocation are being looked into by respective investigating agencies in the domain of their interest. But for all these to happen, in a democracy we have to allow Parliament to function. We are ready to discuss all issues. We are not afraid of discussions,” he said, when asked on the deadlock over the 2G issue.

While appealing to political parties, he said in a democracy, there was need for “reasoned debate” to raise “nationally-acceptable” approaches.

The 2G spectrum allocation has reportedly caused an alleged loss of Rs1.76 lakh crore to the Government, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has stated in a damning report.

The report further states that former Union Telecom Minister A. Raja had no apparent logical or valid reasons to ignore the advice of the Law and Finance Ministries while allocating telecom spectrum to several firms in 2007-08. (ANI)