Raja's written submission before JPC not part of 2G report

Former Telecom Minister A Raja's written submission before the Joint Parliamentary Committee, in which he had claimed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the loop over policy decisions, does not form part of the panel's report on 2G spectrum scam.

"Raja's opinion was received by the Committee not only on one occasion but on three. We received three letters from Raja. The last one was a note. That was not made part of the report...but when we reached conclusion, Raja's note was also quoted in that. His note was analysed by the committee before we arrived at conclusions," JPC Chairman P C Chacko said in New Delhi.

He was asked whether Raja's written submission made before the JPC in March has been included in the annexures along with 27 other documents. Several letters, file notings, recommendations of various committees have been included in the annexure of the report.

Raja's demands to appear personally before the committee were rejected and he was asked to respond to certain questions in writing as well as give his submission to the 30-member panel.

"I did not reject his request for a personal appearance. It was a decision based on the majority view of the committee. It was the decision of the committee," Chacko said rejecting suggestions that he stonewalled the former minister's personal appearance as a witness.

Raja had told the JPC that Singh was in the loop over policy decisions. Raja, who could not personally appear before the JPC, had responded to a questionnaire sent by the committee, saying the prime minister and the then External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee were kept informed on the licencing policy.

In his 17-page note, Raja has said that he had "exchanged letter" with the prime minister on November 2, 2007 on various issues relating to the telecom sector and also had subsequent personal discussions on the subject.