New Delhi:
DMK chief Karunanidhi is standing by his man.
He has agreed with Telecom Minister A Raja who told NDTV this morning that he sees no reason to resign for how he handled the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.
Many - including the government's auditor - have held Raja responsible for grossly under-valuing the spectrum and costing the government thousands of crores by choosing not to auction it. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), to be tabled in Parliament, has indicted Raja.
"We are not guilty," said Karunanidhi in Chennai. "Raja had followed the same method followed by his predecessors Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie. What's wrong in that? They had the first come first served policy."
Karunanidhi's stand creates a conundrum for the Congress. The party has been hoping, sources say, that Karunanidhi would ask Raja to step down. The Opposition has vowed not to let Parliament function till Raja is dismissed.
And it is attacking the Congress for being more worried about its survival at the Centre, than about honest governance. The DMK, with its 18 MPs, is a crucial ally in the UPA government.
After the CAG report was leaked and reported on extensively in the media, including NDTV, the Congress reportedly felt that it was untenable for Raja to continue in office.
But the DMK chief, said "I know about CAG report. They give reports about the PM and all Chief Ministers. Let the report be presented, then we will respond."
Snapping at the DMK's heels is its political rival, the AIADMK, headed by J Jayalalithaa. She has offered to support the UPA government if it sacks Raja and is then abandoned by the DMK. Karunanidhi was dismissive of her calculations. "The AIADMK tried knocking the Centre's doors. But they did not open for Jayalalithaa."
He has agreed with Telecom Minister A Raja who told NDTV this morning that he sees no reason to resign for how he handled the allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.
Many - including the government's auditor - have held Raja responsible for grossly under-valuing the spectrum and costing the government thousands of crores by choosing not to auction it. A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), to be tabled in Parliament, has indicted Raja.
"We are not guilty," said Karunanidhi in Chennai. "Raja had followed the same method followed by his predecessors Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie. What's wrong in that? They had the first come first served policy."
Karunanidhi's stand creates a conundrum for the Congress. The party has been hoping, sources say, that Karunanidhi would ask Raja to step down. The Opposition has vowed not to let Parliament function till Raja is dismissed.
And it is attacking the Congress for being more worried about its survival at the Centre, than about honest governance. The DMK, with its 18 MPs, is a crucial ally in the UPA government.
After the CAG report was leaked and reported on extensively in the media, including NDTV, the Congress reportedly felt that it was untenable for Raja to continue in office.
But the DMK chief, said "I know about CAG report. They give reports about the PM and all Chief Ministers. Let the report be presented, then we will respond."
Snapping at the DMK's heels is its political rival, the AIADMK, headed by J Jayalalithaa. She has offered to support the UPA government if it sacks Raja and is then abandoned by the DMK. Karunanidhi was dismissive of her calculations. "The AIADMK tried knocking the Centre's doors. But they did not open for Jayalalithaa."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
