Sharad Pawar quits as head of ministers' group on telecom

Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, who was to chair the first meeting of the reconstituted empowered group of ministers (EGoM) today, instead postponed the meeting and opted out of the panel, saying he does not want to be dragged into a controversy.

Pawar wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing earlier attempts to drag him into the controversy surrounding the allocation of 2G spectrum. He said it would be appropriate for him to recuse himself from heading the EGoM.

"Attempts have been made in the past to unnecessarily drag me in the controversy surrounding the allocation of 2G spectrum. These allegations were false and ill-motivated, which I strongly refuted. Neither in the personal capacity nor in the official, I was connected with any of the decision making process in this sector.

"At this juncture, I believe that my association in the decision making process as the chairman of the EGoM may further motivate the vested elements to try to drag me in the controversy. As such, I thought it will be appropriate for me to recuse myself from the position of the chairman of the EGoM on this subject," Pawar wrote in his letter.

Pawar's name was sought to be linked to DB Group-promoted Swan Telecom that benefited from the 2008 spectrum allocation by the then telecom minister A Raja. Pawar had strongly denied any links with the DB Group.

The EGoM had to be reconstituted after exit of Pranab Mukherjee, who was heading it.