DMK gives notice for discussion on CAG report on 2G in Lok Sabha

New Delhi: The UPA seems to have played the 2G card ahead of the all-party meet to resolve the parliament deadlock on FDI. Congress ally DMK has given a notice for a discussion under rule 193 on the CAG report on 2G Scam in the Lok Sabha. The notice comes after ex-CAG audit officer RP Singh claimed the report was influenced by BJP leader and Public Accounts Committee Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi.

RP Singh alleged that Joshi had called audit officials to his house for preparation of the PAC report on 2G scam that indicted the government. Joshi even offered to resign if the allegations against him could be proved. RP Singh alleged that he was told to sign on the 2010 audit report to Parliament that had estimated a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore on account of spectrum sale.

Singh claimed that he had estimated a loss of Rs 2645 crore and he had signed the report containing Rs 1.76 lakh crore loss on the orders of his superiors. There were charges and counter charges between BJP and and the Congress and the Union Ministers latched on to Singh's claims to attack BJP and Joshi.

Singh later made a U-turn on his earlier claim and said that he had been misquoted by the newspaper which had initially carried the report. "I do remember there is documentary evidence where it is stated that a member of the PAC had asked to calculate losses using a particular formula. I cannot confirm the name, but I confirm the content (evidence)," he said speaking to Karan Thapar.

In the notice, DMK leader TR Baalu said this developments put the entire issue in a new light which calls for "thorough discussion into the audit practices and constitutional mandate of the CAG". Baalu's action comes close on the heels of Union Minister V Narayanasamy's remarks that the Centre was ready for a discussion in Parliament on the statement of RP Singh, if key ally DMK brings forward a motion. It also comes against the backdrop of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad meeting with DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai on Sunday during which the Health Minister had tried to persuade DMK to support the government on the FDI in retail issue.

DMK had come under lot of pressure in the wake of the 2G scam and the then Telecom Minister A Raja had to resign in the wake of the controversy and was also arrested. Karunanidhi had last week strongly pitched for a multi-member CAG, saying the recent flopped auction of 2G spectrum that netted only about Rs 9,000 crore had proved wrong the top auditor's report pegging the presumptive loss in 2G allocation.

(With additional information from PTI)