Author: Special Correspondent
Publication: The Hindu
Date: April 4, 2011
URL: http://www.hindu.com/2011/04/04/stories/2011040462091400.htm
The Central Bureau of Investigation has left
core issues out of its charge sheet in the 2G spectrum allocation case, Leader
of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said on here on Sunday.
Addressing a "Meet the Media" here,
he said the entire basis of loss to the exchequer from the sale of spectrum
in 2008 at the 2001 prices was not dealt with by the CBI. There was a serious
allegation pertaining to the favour shown to the DMK. Investigation into it
was conveniently postponed.
The timing of filing of the charge sheet was
influenced by elections in Tamil Nadu and the compulsion to file it within
60 days. The CBI had said the Prime Minister was misled in the spectrum and
licence allocation, whereas its job was to deal with criminality and not to
issue a clean chit, he said.
Only further investigations could reveal whether
other constituents of the ruling United Progressive Alliance had a hand in
the scam. The probe was monitored by the Supreme Court and the CBI would not
act on political considerations. Supervision by the Central Vigilance Commission
did not help to ensure the CBI's impartiality. It could be impartial only
if the government disciplined itself, he said.
"A coincidence"
The Left parties would be without a State
to rule after the elections. "[However] for cadre parties, you don't
write obituaries." Both the Left and the BJP were opposed to the Congress,
but no alliance between them was possible because of their ideological differences.
The Janata Dal (United) having put up a candidate against Chief Minister V.S.
Achuthanandan was a coincidence. When the JD(U) contested in constituencies
without much base, the BJP did the campaigning, Mr. Jaitley noted.
The coming elections might throw up factors
that would affect the longevity of the UPA government. The mood of the electorate
was turning against the Congress-led government for want of effective governance;
its failure to control prices, especially food prices, and a slew of scandals.
Consequently, its credibility had suffered. The elections would also affect
the Left's efforts to put together a third front. "Thus, our efforts
to strengthen the NDA as a principal Opposition party will get a boost,"
the senior BJP leader said.
Vote-bank politics
Extreme polarisation of politics between the
two fronts in Kerala had led to vote-bank politics and this hindered development.
It would be a challenge for a third party to gain political space, Mr. Jaitley
said adding, "This time, we are determined to increase our votes and
get a reasonable entry into the Assembly."
