Chidambaram decided 2G spectrum prices with Raja: Swamy
November 22nd, 2011 - 9:22 pm ICT by IANS
Chennai, Nov 22 (IANS) Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy Tuesday reiterated his charge that the pricing of second generation (2G) telecom spectrum at 2001 rates was decided jointly by the then finance minister P. Chidambaram and jailed former telecom minister A. Raja in 2008.
Swamy also released a set of documents pertaining to the finance ministry which, he claimed, showed that Chidambaram and Raja had discussed the spectrum usage charge and also the pricing of 3G spectrum.
Talking to reporters here, Swamy said the two met four times in 2008 (January 30, April 9, May 29 and June 12) to decide the pricing and allocation of 2G and 3G spectrum.
Chidambaram is as responsible as Raja for 2G spectrum pricing, Swamy said.
Swamy is arguing a case to implicate Chidambaram, who now heads the home ministry, in the multi-crore 2G spectrum scam.
Swamy said the Rs.1,650 crore base price of the 2G spectrum for pan-India operations was a joint decision of Chidambaram and Raja.
The rate was determined in 2003-04 adopting the 2001 pricing of the spectrum followed by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
The Comptroller and Auditor General says that by not auctioning 2G spectrum and allocating it on a first-come-first-served basis, Raja caused the exchequer a presumptive loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore.
- Raja committed offence in active connivance with Chidambaram: Swamy (Roundup) - Dec 17, 2011
- 2G: Swamy deposes against Chidambaram (Second Lead) - Dec 17, 2011
- Order reserved on Swamy plea seeking Chidambaram's prosecution - Jan 21, 2012
- Chidambaram allocated extra spectrum to 2G licence holders: Swamy - Apr 20, 2012
- Relief for Chidambaram as court dismisses Swamy's plea (Second Lead) - Feb 04, 2012
- 2G: Swamy submits documents against Chidambaram (Lead) - Jan 07, 2012
- 2G: Swamy submits documents against Chidambaram - Jan 07, 2012
- Timeline of the 2G case - Feb 04, 2012
- 2G case: Order reserved on Swamy's plea (Lead) - Dec 03, 2011
- Raja was not lying on Chidambaram role in 2G: DMK - Sep 22, 2011
- Swamy moves SC to make Chidambaram an accused - Feb 24, 2012
- 2G scam: A chronology - Feb 02, 2012
- Opposition's sack Chidambaram chorus rises - Sep 23, 2011
- Sibal denies Chidambaram had role in 2G scam, BJP differs - Dec 10, 2011
- Order reserved on Swamy plea for Chidambaram's trial (Lead) - Jan 22, 2012
Tags: base price, comptroller and auditor general, crore, finance minister, finance ministry, first come first served basis, home ministry, india operations, janata party president, joint decision, national democratic alliance, p chidambaram, rs 1, second generation, spectrum usage, subramanian swamy, telecom