Did UPA threaten top bureaucrat on spectrum?

Manmohan Singh had warned of ‘harm' if he didn't cooperate in the 2G case, says Baijal

GN Staff | May 26, 2015


#spectrum   #paper   #mishap BJP   #explanation  

The allegations are serious and throw light on the kind of pushing and pulling as bureaucrat faces. Former Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) chairman Pradip Baijal has made expolsoive claims on telecom scam, in his book. Baijal has alleged that the former prime minister Manmohan Singh warned him of “harm” if he didn't cooperate in the 2G case.

He also said that in 2009 the UPA government took wrong decisions under some pressure, but later put the blame on bureaucrats.

According to Baijal then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran compelled him not to implement NDA government's cabinet decision on Unified Service Licensing.

Baijal was TRAI chief between March 2003 and March 2006. He had pushed for unified licensing, under which an operator can offer telecom and broadcasting services on a single licence and next generation networks that would bring down the network costs significantly.

Detailing the spectrum scam, Baijal claimed he had ordered TRAI to give preference to Unified Access Service Licence during spectrum auction. But Maran suggested otherwise. Yet TRAI in 2005 did as directed by the NDA government. However, Maran till 2007 took no decision. This was a major reason leading to 2G Spectrum scam.

Baijal also said that ex-prime minister Manmohan Singh had wanted him to follow the directions Maran.

Baijal was interrogated by the CBI for his role in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, but was not charged.

Meanwhile, the BJP has demanded an explanation from Manmohan Singh on the charges leveled by Baijal.

Union environment and forest minister Prakash Javedekar who was in Coimbatore on Tuesday to inaugurate Isha Yoga Centre's tree planting programme said the Pradip Baijal's revelation that even the then PM had told him to work as per the "design" has proved that the 2G spectrum scam was a collective scam of UPA. "Therefore the Congress has to explain about Baijal's revelation. The Prime Minister also has to explain," Javedekar said.

Comments

 

Other News

Here’s an I.D.E.A. for career growth and success

Success in today’s professional organisation is no longer solely determined by academic qualifications, technical expertise or years of experience. While these attributes do matter, organisations increasingly value individuals who demonstrate the right mindset and behavioural qualities. The ability

PM interacts with CEOs, founders of space startups

Prime minister Narendra Modi interacted with CEOs and Founders of 20 Space Startups at Seva Teerth on Friday.   CEOs of leading companies in the space sector working in diverse fields ranging from building rockets and reusable semi-cryogenic launch vehicles, avionics, satelli

From one cow to a dairy business

In 2012, Anita Dash wasn`t dreaming of building a dairy brand. She wasn`t studying business models or planning market expansion. Like countless mothers across India, her focus was on something much simpler: giving her children a better future.   At the time, her most valuable

Ethanol blending: The two sides of a story

India`s crude oil consumption is estimated to be around 88.5% imported from abroad. This one single figure is also responsible for why ethanol has become both an economic strategy and fuel policy at the same time. In an economy like India, which depends so heavily on foreign oil, any increase in internat

Food inflation: Not a macroeconomic statistic but a developmental indicator

India`s retail inflation shows a reassuring picture at first glance. According to the latest data, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation edged up to 4.38% in June 2026 from 3.93% in May 2026, but continued to remain within the Reserve Bank of India`s (RBI) target band of 4% (+/- 2%). However, beneath this

Skin in the game or masterful market timing?

When a company founder opens their personal chequebook to buy shares in their own business, stock markets usually applaud. To the average retail investor, it feels like the ultimate vote of confidence, a sign that the people running the show have real skin in the game and believe brighter days are ahead.

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter