Can’t discuss Raja issue in public: Singh
The prime minister Manmohan Singh’s contention is
right while saying to
journalists that he cannot reveal anything about the corruption charges against his cabinet minister A Raja in the last government. He might escape from the journalists for the time being, but the matter is well publicized since the time Raja allocated spectrum whimsically by which the government incurred hundreds of crores if not thousands.
Raja has said on record that he consulted the prime minister before allocation has serious implications. The reporters asked the PM the same, which he tackled diplomatically by showing the wrong time and wrong place.
The prime minister should have acknowledged or refused Raja’s statement of informing the PM before the allocation was made. Raja being a cabinet minister in this new government, but with a different portfolio, can influence the
investigation agencies that are conducting raids and other activities in this matter. The opposition’s demand to keep Raja away from the government until the investigation is over is also not taken by Singh seriously, it seems.
The PM’s hesitation to come clear on the subject is an indication that he is not in apposition to comment on the subject without consulting with others in the higher side of his party. Moreover, Raja being a minister from the DMK party, a close alliance of the UPA, it is well understood that Singh is more interested in the stability of the government than few hundreds crores.