2G spectrum issue: DMK gives notice for discussion in LS

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday gave notice for a discussion in Lok Sabha on the 2G spectrum issue, on which it had come under a lot of flak, in the wake of claims made by former CAG official R P Singh.

DMK leader T R Baalu has given the notice for a special discussion, saying the reports appearing in the media showed that the loss figure in the 2G issue had been "inflated exponentially".

In the notice, Baalu said the developments put the entire issue in a new light which calls for "thorough discussion into the audit practices and constitutional mandate of the CAG".

Baalu's action comes close on the heels of Union Minister V Narayanasamy's remarks that the Centre was ready for a discussion in Parliament on the statement of R P Singh on the 2G spectrum allocations issue, if key ally DMK brings forward a motion.

The former CAG official had claimed that his superiors gave him "written order" following which he signed on the final report giving a presumptive loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

It also comes against the backdrop of Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad meeting with DMK chief M Karunanidhi in Chennai yesterday during which the Health Minister had tried to persuade DMK to support the government on the FDI in retail issue.

DMK had come under lot of pressure in the wake of the 2G scam and the then Telecom Minister A Raja had to resign in the wake of the controversy and was also arrested.

Karunanidhi had last week strongly pitched for a multi-member CAG, saying the recent flopped auction of 2G spectrum that netted only about Rs 9,000 crore had proved wrong the top auditor's report pegging the presumptive loss in 2G allocation.