Maran started 2G scam: PAC chairman Joshi The former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran of DMK Party is already under the scanner of investigation agencies, at this juncture the statement of Murli Manohar Joshi of BJP and the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee alleging that Maran is the beginner of the 2G spectrum scam would create more problem to Maran as well as his party DMK.
The powers of the Group of Ministers (GoM) were transferred to the telecom department, Joshi said. Naturally the terms of references were changed separating the pricing of the spectrum by the then telecom minister for his own interest. Why the powers of the GoM were taken away is the vital question, and who is the sanctioning authority for doing this is even more vital to know now. Was there pressure from the UPA ally DMK due to which the powers of GoM were snatched and given to the telecom department? Whatever Maran did must have been done with the knowledge of the Prime Minister’s Office. If my contention is right, then Maran would invariably cite the consent of higher authorities for going ahead in the allocation of spectrum.
According to Joshi, the cabinet decision of 2003 clearly mentioned that the spectrum pricing would be fixed by taking the Finance Ministry into confidence. Maran’s action on changing this line of decision is absolutely wrong and questionable. The PAC Chairman also mentioned the name of the Prime Minister of not giving seriousness in this at that time.
Granting of licenses to Aircel in 2007 was doubted and published in a news magazine since then Maran’s credibility of allotting spectrum became doubtful. Aircel, the company was trying to get the telecom license for more than two years, but was denied under the owner of that time. Once the owner was changed and Malaysia based Maxis took over the reign, problem was over for Aircel and licenses were allotted. It is stated that the sister company of Maxis invested Rs. 675 crore in the Sun TV owned by Maran, and soon after the Aircel got the licenses. Two plus two is four is the simple equation could be applied in this case to implicate Maran.
As usual Dayanidhi Maran is giving those old rotten statements saying that he is innocent and all these are being done with ulterior motives against him and his party.
Joshi being the PAC Chairman has access to documents and files of the government; hence his contention could not be wrong.