New Delhi, Nov 13 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Saturday asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to drop Communication and IT minister A. Raja from the cabinet over the 2G spectrum controversy.
‘With increasing evidence of the scam tumbling out and the CAG report itself reportedly estimating a loss of Rs.176,000 crores, there is no way this issue can be pushed under the carpet,’ it said in a statement.
The CPI-M said the Supreme Court bench itself had observed adversely on the failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to question the minister — who has refused to resign.
‘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 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 CPI-M demands that the prime minister act urgently.’
