2G spectrum scam: Inherited policy of predecessors, says A Raja

NEW DELHI: Former Telecom Minister A Raja defended himself in 2G spectrum allocation scam by saying he had continued the policy inherited from NDA government and his predecessors were backed by the union cabinet and his effort was to make cellular phone services affordable to the man on the street.

The DMK leader said he was under no obligation to follow the policy of auction for allocation of 2G licences and adopted the policy "which was decided by the union cabinet in 2003" and followed by Arun Shourie of NDA government and his party colleague Dayanidhi Maran who was his immediate predecessor.

"As Telecom Minster, Arun Shourie distributed 26 licences while Dayanidhi Maran distributed 25 and I distributed 122 licences. Numbers make no difference. However, it is to be noted that none of them auctioned the spectrum. Let them deny that they have not done what I did," Raja said.

"I have only implemented what I have inherited," his counsel and senior advocate Sushil Kumar submitted before Special CBI judge O P Saini.

"To give a licence without auction was my obligation. Look at the enormity of injustice to me. I am being prosecuted for doing my duty," Raja said, adding "the award of licences in November 2003, January 2004, December 2006, March 2007 (under Maran) and under me in January 2008 were all policy decisions.

"The entire spectrum allocation from 2002 was below the market price and the difference was to be recovered from the subscribers," Raja said.