Murli Manohar Joshi denies report of trying to influence CAG

BHUBANESWAR: Public Accounts Committee chairman Murli Manohar Joshi today denied reports that he or the PAC had ever tried to influence the CAG in regard to calculation of losses on account of spectrum allocations.

The BJP leader said he had tried to find out as to why foreign investors had gone for big investments in telecom companies which had neither expertise nor infrastructure.

The companies had informed the PAC that they came to the telecom sector because they could manage to get spectrum allocations, Joshi pointed out.

"PAC has not at all influenced anything. We have only told the irregularities and violations of cabinet decisions and the conspiracy between certain people and the private players to denude the country's exchequer," he said.

The issue is like this, he said, "there is no question whether the FDI comes or not... we are not saying anything about the investments. What we are saying is that the investments should come in a proper manner. We have checked up with those who have come with foreign investments and we asked how have you selected this company for foreign investment?"

The PAC had raised question on how spectrum allocations were given to companies having no expertise or infrastructure, he said.

Therefore, Joshi said, "Don't confuse the issues. Heavens will not fall down if culprits are brought to book." "The issue is that those who have done the irregularities, those who have violated the decisions of the cabinet, those who have given irregular licenses... and Supreme Court has also taken cognizance of it," he said.