‘Spectrum’ Raja in deeper trouble after CAG indictment

After Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and Commonwealth Games organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi, it may finally be the turn of telecommunications minister A Raja to go. The final report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the 2G spectrum allocation scandal has held him personally responsible for the sale of spectrum at dirt cheap rates in 2008, resulting in a loss of up to Rs1.70 lakh crore to the national exchequer.

Apart from Raja, the CAG report also indicts the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). The report says Raja ignored the advice of the finance ministry, the law ministry and the Telecom Commission while allocating the spectrum, which was done in an arbitrary manner without giving any logic or reasons.

The report states that the eligibility criteria were changed to suit a few operators. It slams TRAI for being a 'helpless spectator'. It also indicts the Department of Telecommunications for flouting eligibility guidelines and says of the 122 licences issued, 85 were illegal.

The CAG has backed up its stinging censure of Raja by attaching files which it claims establish the minister's personal culpability.

A copy of the CAG report was submitted to the prime minister's office on Monday. However, with the opposition on the offensive, there is speculation that the report may not be tabled till the fag end of the Parliament session.

The CAG report could not have come at a worse time for Raja. A few days ago, the Supreme Court expressed its bafflement over his continuing in the government. With the ouster of Chavan and Kalmadi, the opposition will be baying for more blood.