Intend to have another 2G auction before March 2013: Kapil Sibal

New Delhi: After a dismal 2G spectrum auction, the government once again defended itself questioning the 2G scam loss figure quoted by CAG and also said that it intends to hold another auction before March 31, 2013. "The intent is to try and have another auction before 31st March. We will discuss how to move forward and take a call on it," Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal said.

As against the target of Rs 40,000 crore, the auction, which concluded on Wednesday, managed to fetch only Rs 9,407 crore. "We are certainly not celebrating. I am upset that the consumer has not benefited," Sibal said. This was much less than the reserve price of Rs 28,000 crore fixed by the Telecommunications Ministry.

The Centre had on Thursday launched a fresh attack on the CAG and questions the 2G loss figures while demanding an overhaul of the auditor's method of calculations.

The government also once again defended itself questioning the 2G scam loss figure quoted by CAG.

Information & Broadcasting Minister and Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari on Thursday lashed out at the CAG for the 1.76 lakh crore presumptive loss figure that caused a huge embarrassment to the government back and resulted in several high-profile arrests, including that of former telecom minister A Raja and several business leaders. "Mr CA & G where is the 1.76,000 crore loss?" asked Tewari in New Delhi.

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• Govt gets only Rs 9,400 cr from 2G auction, Sibal defends poor response

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