Former telecom secretary was part of 2G decisions: Raja-PTI, Nov 13, 2010,

Former telecom secretary was part of 2G decisions: Raja

PTI, Nov 13, 2010, 10.19pm IST


CHENNAI: Union telecom minister A Raja on Saturday said former telecom secretary D S Mathur was part and parcel of all decisions on 2G spectrum allocation over which he is facing the heat from the opposition demanding his resignation.

"Mathur was part and parcel of all discussions and decisions. The note and file were also signed by him on November 7, 2007," Raja told reporters here, disputing the claim of the former top telecom ministry official that his advice for auction was ignored.

Mathur has claimed that he had recommended to Raja that spectrum be given through auction so that there can be transparency.

"I had also said that the spectrum was limited and therefore only a limited number of licences can be given," he said.

Raja said suggestions on likely availabilty of spectrum were also useful in arriving at the cut-off date of September 25, 2007 for allocation of the airwaves. He did not, however, specify who made the suggestions.

Asked whether Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would ask him to resign, Raja shot back saying the question is 'fictitious.'

"I have full confidence in myself. Whatever I did, I did exactly in accordance with law. I will prove that these types of perceptions (his role in the scam) are wrong," he said.

He said the media's reaction on the issue should not be "unilateral and motivated."

On CBI inquiry into the spectrum scam, he said there was no probe against him and added that the law would take its own course.

To a query on AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa asking people to send telegrams to the President demanding his sacking, he sarcastically 'thanked' her for ensuring the revenue for the postal department.