CAG sticks to 2G report
PTI
NEW DELHI, JAN 10
The CAG today said it stood by its report on 2G spectrum allocation brushing aside the Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal’s contention that the auditor’s projection of Rs 1.76 lakh crore as presumptive loss was “utterly erroneous”.
“The CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General) stands by its report on 2G spectrum 100 per cent,” the CAG spokesperson told reporters here.
In its report tabled in Parliament in November 2010, the Government auditor had pegged a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer on account of allocation of 2G spectrum based on 2001 prices.
The 2G scam has become a major political issue with the Opposition demanding a Joint Parliament Committee to probe the alleged scam. The demand, however, was rejected by the Government leading to disruption of almost the entire Winter Session of Parliament.
Sibal’s predecessor A Raja was forced to quit on the issue of alleged scam in 2G spectrum allocation.
The CAG spokesperson referred to rules in Parliamentary procedures and practices that prohibit any official, MP or any member of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from commenting on any subject which is under consideration of the PAC.
“That is why there is no comment from the CAG (on Sibal’s statement)”, he spokesperson said.
Last week Sibal had slammed the CAG for its projection of Rs 1.76 lakh crore as presumptive loss terming its methodology as “utterly erroneous” and said there was “no loss at all” to the exchequer due to allocation of licences and 2G spectrum in 2008.
“We believe the exercise (by CAG) was fraught with very serious errors which resulted in a kind of sensationalism which has allowed the Opposition to spread utter falsehood to the people of India and we object to it”, Sibal had said.
The CAG in its 77-page report had said that due diligence was not followed and even the recommendations of the telecom regulator TRAI were “not followed in spirit”.
The report said the “presumptive” loss caused to the exchequer through spectrum allocation to 122 licensees and 35 dual technology licences in 2007-08 was Rs 1,76,645 crore.
It arrived at the figure on the basis of 3G auction held earlier this year in which the Government mopped up over Rs 67,000 crore.
