New Delhi:
The Opposition has been demanding a statement from the Prime Minister on the 2G scam, but sources in the government have made it clear that the Prime Minister will address issues in court alone- through an affidavit that will be filed by tomorrow, in keeping with the Supreme Court's orders.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court stressed that it is worried by the "alleged inaction and silence of the PM" on the role played by A Raja in the licensing of 2G spectrum in 2008 - the basis of the current controversy. (
Read: Court wants affidavit on PM's behalf)
Rahul Gandhi came to the PM's defence today, stating to reporters in Parliament that he does not think the court's remarks are embarrassing for the PM.
(Read: Rahul comes out in strong support of PM) But in an acknowledgement of damage done, the government has changed the PM's lawyer for the case - Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium has been replaced by the Attorney General, GE Vahanvati.
The Supreme Court's remarks were based on the fact that for close to a year, the PM did not respond to a letter by former Law Minister Subramanian Swamy who wanted the PM to sanction the prosecution of Raja who was, till Sunday, a cabinet minister. (
Read: How Raja allegedly robbed India)
"It is incorrect to say that the Prime Minister is silent on this controversy. The Supreme Court is looking into this case. So it would be inappropriate for the Prime Minister to make any statement outside the Supreme Court," say sources.
Swamy alleged what a report by the government's auditor confirmed last week - that Raja deliberately undervalued 2G spectrum and sold it to newcomers who should have been deemed ineligible for licenses. (
Read: 2G scam - 85 companies got licenses by suppressing facts, says CAG)
Swamy wrote to the PM in November 2008 - he got his response in March 2010. The government said that because the CBI was investigating the case, Swamy's request could not be granted. Because Raja was a serving minister, the PM's sanction was necessary for Swamy to begin prosecuting him.
However, sources in the government stress that the PM was not legally obliged to respond to Swamy's letter at all. They say that sanctions cannot be considered for a case like this till the process of investigation has been completed.
The Opposition will not accept explanations like that. Today, for the tenth day in a row, both houses of Parliament were adjourned after protests by the Opposition which has two demands- that the PM address the Supreme Court's remarks, and that a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) be set up to examine a trilogy of scams that have been exposed recently: the Adarsh Society scam in Mumbai where politicians and bureaucrats colluded with defence officers to corner low-price flats in a building meant for war widows and defence veterans; the 2G scam which forced Raja's resignation; and the irrefutable corruption among those who were in charge of organizing the Commonwealth Games.
(Watch: PM a 'prisoner of coalition politics', says BJP)