Delhi, Chennai:
"There is no question of me resigning," declared the Telecom Minister to NDTV hours after raids at his ministry. Sources say that the Prime Minister will also not push for A Raja's resignation unless there is conclusive evidence against him.
The DMK's blue-eyed boy - A Raja - may have, in the past, managed to ensure a 'Touch Me Not' immunity due to political compulsions. But now with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) acting on a Central Vigilance Commission report, the Union Telecom Minister is in a tight spot over the multi-crore 2G spectrum scam.
The opposition wants him to resign or be sacked. But his party has rallied around him. The CBI raids on Raja's Ministry have put a strain on DMK-Congress ties.
Raids by the CBI on the Department of Telecommunications have put the Union Minister on a sticky wicket.
What is spectrum scam:- Investigations suggest the spectrum scam involving his Ministry could run into 22,000 crore rupees
- The department of telecom allegedly put a cap on the number of applicants for 2G licenses against the recommendations of the telecom regulatory authority
- And awarded licences to select companies on a first-come-first-served basis
- The licenses were given out at the rates of 2001 - which were far below market rates
- No auction process was followed and no bids were invited
- And the firms which got the licences at throwaway prices later sold their stake to foreign operators at a huge profit
The CBI raids have revived demands for Raja's ouster that began during his previous tenure. A controversy that the DMK was accused of forcing the Congress to ignore when it formed the Cabinet. That's how Raja was back in the same seat.
"It is a national shame that a sitting Union Minister is raided by the CBI. The PM should not allow him to remain in office for another minute," said Ravi Shankar Prasad, BJP Leader.
"The PM must intervene and Raja should resign," said Sitaram Yechury CPM Leader.
But Raja refuses to leave the crease as he's backed by his captain DMK Chief M Karunanidhi.
"I have only followed what my predecessors started. My name is not mentioned by the CBI. Of course, Jayalalithaa and the BJP will ask for my resignation," said A Raja, Union IT & Communications Minister.
In his interview to NDTV, the Telecom Minister said all decisions on allocation of the 2G spectrum were within the regulations of the telecom regulatory body, and were formalised "with the prime minister's approval. Whatever be the issue, the opposition will always demand my resignation. Even in the CBI, there is nothing against me."
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister believes Raja is being targeted because he's a dalit. Raja is also known to be close to members of Karunanidhi's family. And the opposition in Tamil Nadu claims he's the party's 'golden goose'!
The DMK is said to have conveyed its displeasure over the raids to the Congress High Command. The Southern Congress ally is already miffed with the Centre for allegedly favouring Kerala in the Mullaiperiyar dam conflict and has called for a protest rally in Madurai next week. Karunanidhi's followers say the CBI action will put a strain on DMK-Congress ties.