Embarrassing Truth

God alone

• 33 Posts
• 29 Comments

Despite the CBI raids the whole truth of the 2G spectrum allocation scam will come out, doubts Sanjay Gupta

It appears that the Central Bureau of Investigation agency might have to wait for green signal from the Central dispensation to raid associates of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s wife and his daughter Kanimozhi, an MP, in connection with the 2G spectrum scam. The CBI raided 34 premises in Delhi and Chennai where some of those were of Nira Radia, TRAI ex-chief Pradeep Baijal and close aides of former Telecom Minister A Raja as well. According to the CBI they got evidence that money involved in 2G scam was sent abroad, but it would count when the agency could collect concrete evidences in this regard and it would prove in the court as well. It is worth mentioning that the record of the CBI regarding probe in big scams and scandals has been dismal. As CBI has failed in dealing with the cases linked with highly placed leaders and bureaucrats till now.

The 2G spectrum scam has not only got its enormity, but also involved influensive and high-end political personas. It is a good relief that the Supreme Court gave its nod to observe the CBI probe, giving its directives not to get influenced from any people how big clout they enjoy. Although CBI is working earnestly owing to the apex court’s vigil, it is hard to say that the agency is impartial and autonomous and working without any political interference. The CBI would not have taken such a long spell to carry out raids in order to get to the bottom of the scam, had it really been autonomous. The raids that were recently done could have been conducted a year ago. Nobody is in a position to reply that why did the CBI take such a long time to raid suspected people? As no one is ready to answer, common people have reached conclusion that the CBI is mere a protégé of the Centre, which is exploited for political gains. There are many examples of it. The CBI blows hot and cold about the leaders from the opposition being involved in the disproportionate assets case. It is obvious, all this is done under directives of the Central government.

The winter session of Parliament ended without any serious work owing to the spectrum scam. The opposition stalled the Parliament to demand the JPC probe and the ruling party kept refuting it, claiming its clean image. While the ruling dispensation has no answer as to why it avoids to constitute JPC, the opposition has also no reply, why do they not allow debate on corruption? Undoubtedly, the spectrum scam is ever big and this was approved by the directives of the Supreme Court that there should be proper investigation into the role of Telecom Ministry, Telecom Regulatory Authority, the companies which got allocation of 2G spectrum and the banks which provided loans to them. But the fact remains that this is not alone a big issue of corruption and only probing the spectrum scam is not going to put check on it. As the Supreme Court has ordered to extend the investigation into the policy of spectrum allocation to 2001, it will now be clear whether the allocation of spectrum was done properly? A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of retired judge of Supreme Court to review the policy of spectrum allocation. However, BJP feels discomfiture with reviewing of the spectrum allocation during its tenure, it will be just that the truth should come out. It is pertinent to find whether the question raised over the role of people associated with judiciary also gets expressed? The way ex-chief justice KG Balakrishnan defended former Telecom Minister A Raja and the way it was refuted by a judge of the Supreme Court and Law Minister, clearly indicates that this matter should also be investigated because Madras high court Judge S Raghupathi, who claims to have been allegedly pressurised by A Raja, says that he was frightened at that time and he still feels insecure.

It is not surprising that the opposition is demanding that JPC should be constituted to probe the 2G spectrum scam despite the investigation is going on under the observation of the Supreme Court. Going by the attitude of the opposition, it is probable that the Budget session of Parliament could also be disrupted. Irrespective of the Centre’s pleas for not letting the spectrum scam be probed by the JPC, the image of the government got dented with its slackness on the investigation of the scam and the message spread among public that the government tried to put curtains on the scam.

The opposition, particularly BJP, has planned to organize rallies across the country to strengthen their demand for the JPC probe.
In fact it is their right but question arises that if the BJP has tightened it’s belt to eradicate corruption, why it has taken soft posture on the corruption case where Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa is involved. Wouldn’t it have been better, if BJP had taken note of Yeddyurappa’s malpractices earlier and then cornered the government? It is decided that until the real picture comes out about the spectrum scam, a lot of water may have gone under bridge and people could lose interests or their focus would shift to other issues. But the helplessness of the government before its alliance partners will not go out of scene, nor will harsh comments of the apex court for the conduct of the government go off the memory. It has become necessary that the solution should be explored to overcome the shortcomings of a coalition government, particularly blackmailing of the government by its allies, otherwise scams like spectrum allocation will keep surfacing and humiliating the nation.

(An original copy of the article published in Hindi on December 19, 2010 translated by the English Editorial)