Spectrum: Left,BJP want Raja to resign

With his office coming under the CBI scanner for alleged irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum licences....

With his office coming under the CBI scanner for alleged irregularities in the allocation of 2G spectrum licences,the opposition parties have demanded the resignation of Union Telecom Minister A Raja. After the AIADMK,it was the Left parties and the BJP on Friday which asked the minister to quit.

In fact,the CPM was among the first parties to demand a CBI investigation into the 2G spectrum allocation,citing largescale corruption to the tune of Rs 60,000 crore in the whole exercise. Today,it said Rajas continuance in office would affect a fair probe,and rejected his claims of innocence.

It is shocking that the Communications Minister,A Raja,has reiterated that he will continue in office despite the investigation. The Minister cannot evade his responsibility and involvement in the matter when all his explanations for adopting the first-come-first-serve policy have proved baseless. In the interest of having a fair probe,it is essential that the Minister not continue in office, said the CPM central committee.

The CPM said the CBI raids at Sanchar Bhawan have confirmed its suspicion that there was largescale corruption in the 2G spectrum allocation. We want those responsible to be brought to book for the massive loss of revenue,and adequate steps should be taken to recover the lost revenue, said party politburo member Sitaram Yechury.

Raja has ruled out resignation,saying he has gone by the book. It is now up to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to take whatever steps are needed to ensure accountability, said the party. Earlier also,the CPM had put the onus of taking action against Raja on the Prime Minister.

Echoing the demand,the CPI central secretariat also sought Rajas ouster to ensure a free and fair probe. Morally it has become untenable for him to remain a Minister, the CPI said in a statement.

Taking up the issue,the BJP said Raja should be sacked immediately. The spectrum allocation scam runs into thousands of crores of rupees. This is the first time that the CBI has raided the offices of a minister. There is no reason moral,ethical or political for him to continue as Communications Minister, said BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad.

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Saying that his party had raised the issue forcefully in the last session of Parliament,Prasad said a free and fair probe could not be expected if Raja continued to occupy the ministerial office.