NEW DELHI: In a scathing attack on the government on the 2G spectrum auction, the BJP on Friday said low bidding had vindicated the CAG's stand that not going for auction in 2008 had led to a huge loss.
It claimed that the wrong policies of UPA were to be blamed for low collections. "This must be the first government in the world which is celebrating its defeat. The auction for 2G which did not yield the desired amount is failure of the UPA government. But instead of accepting its own follies, it is blaming the CAG, CVC, the Supreme Court and everybody else," BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar said.
Defending the CAG, BJP said the attack on the auditor by UPA ministers was part of the same conspiracy to clip its wings by making it a multi-member body. "CAG had estimated losses for 2007 in its report. Mishandling of the economy by the UPA government in the last five years has deterred several investors... Indian investors are now investing abroad," Javadekar said.
BJP plans to raise the issue in the forthcoming Parliament session to put the government on the mat. "It is sad that this government is attacking all institutions and trying to make CAG look responsible for the low bidding. It is doing so because it is neck deep in corruption," Javadekar said.
He added that telecom minister Kapil Sibal should clarify why the government did not go for auction in 2008. "In five years, you have destroyed the whole economic momentum.... To say that lower bidding shows their first come-first serves policy was right is a flawed argument," he said.
Centre collaborated with corporates to keep spectrum price low: Yechury
The CPM on Saturday accused the Centre of collaborating with corporates and having "vested interest" in keeping the 2G auction price low. "It's an act of connivance. The lower the price, the better it is for the corporates. It suits the government also to say see there has been no corruption," CPM's Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury said. He also refuted telecom minister Kapil Sibal's claim that sensationalism over the CAG's presumptive loss figure led to the flop show at the recent 2G spectrum auction, saying the lukewarm response was due to saturation of demand and availability of 3G spectrum. "For 122 licences, the government earned a little over Rs 9,000 crore. For 22 circles auctioned, the government has already earned more."
UPA celebrating defeat, BJP says
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UPA celebrating defeat, BJP says
