2G scam: Raja attacks JPC, says PM was aware of decisions

Hours after he reiterated his allegation that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was aware of all the decisions taken in connection with the allocation of 2G spectrum, former telecom minister A Raja on Monday attacked the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for not allowing him to depose before it, reports CNN-IBN's Bhupendra Chaubey. The JPC is examining the 2G spectrum allocation.

"This is not the way the JPC is expected to function," said Raja. "Even without waiting for my statement JPC prepared a draft report and also leaked it to the media," he alleged. Raja said he was not provided with a copy of the deposition of Solicitor General of India. "I always had concerns about the credibility of JPC," he added.

JPC chairman PC Chacko, however, claimed that Raja was given a chance to be heard. "He (A Raja) gave a 16-page reply to JPC...Raja did not complain then," he said.

Meanwhile, the DMK has sought the removal of Chacko as chairman of the JPC alleging that he had leaked the panel's draft report to the media. DMK leader TR Baalu said he had given a notice of breach of parliamentary privilege against Chacko over the leakage of the JPC draft report.

"We have given a privilege notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar against the leakage of JPC draft report by the JPC chairman," Baalu, a Lok Sabha member from Sriperumbudur, said.

The JPC, in its draft reportm reportedly blamed Raja for the spectrum allocation and gave a clean chit to the Prime Minister and finance minister P Chidambaram.