The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the Prime Minister immediately drop the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Shri A. Raja. With increasing evidence of the scam tumbling out and the CAG Report itself reportedly estimating a loss of Rs. 1,76,000 crores, there is no way that this issue can be pushed under the carpet. The Supreme Court Bench itself had observed adversely on the failure of the CBI to question the Minister. It was implicit that his continuation in the Council of Ministers is impacting the progress of the investigations. Today’s press reports actually confirm this as a meeting was `arranged’ between CBI’s investigating officers and Shri Raja’s Counsel. There is also a report that the former DoT Secretary has now publicly claimed that the Minister had allegedly tried to force him to agree to the course of allocating 2G spectrum which he refused. And subsequently, the Minister ensured the course he had chosen which has resulted in this mega scam.
In the light of all these, the CPI(M) is of the firm opinion that the continuation of the Minister has become untenable. Since he has categorically refused to quit voluntarily, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that the Prime Minister act urgently.