A Raja points fingers at a 'telecom cartel'

Chennai: After spending close to a month in Tamil Nadu since his release on bail, the prime accused in the 2G case, A Raja, is playing the victim card, claiming in an interview to a Tamil news Channel Puthiya Thalaimurai that he is "in trouble today" because he "stood in the way of a telecom cartel."

Naming telecom giants, the former Telecom Minister says, "The four major players - Airtel, Aircel, Vodafone and Idea - acquired the UAS licences and shared the spectrum between themselves as a cartel. This catelisation ensured that new players in the industry were kept at bay. I brought in new players to create a competitive atmosphere which resulted in increasing the tele-density and bringing the call charges down from one rupee to thirty paise per minute."

A combative Raja has also threatened to drag the Comptroller and Auditor General to Court as "the CAG report formed the basis of my criminal prosecution."  Raja points out that the present Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal had gone to record to say that there was no loss to the exchequer as "all the decisions were taken in accordance with policy guidelines of the Telecom Regulatory Authority Of India (TRAI). My problem is that for the first time in the judicial history of India, the CAG report which is meant for Parliament is being used as the basis for a criminal investigation monitored by the Supreme Court. The trial court had rejected the theory of both the CAG and the CBI on the quantum of loss."

Citing the 'first come, first served' policy of his predecessors Arun Shourie and Dayanidhi Maran, Raja insists he did nothing out of the way, adding that in his period he "opened up the market."

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The DMK MP and blue-eyed boy of party Chief M Karunanidhi explained why he did not apply for bail for 15 months. "I had to wait for the effect of the 1.76 lakh crore theory to subside."

Ducking a  poser on whether he feels isolated or made a scape goat, Raja says "this is a criminal case and I have to fight it alone. But I have the strength to fight this and the moral support from my party leader."

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