AFTER SC’S CBI PROBE ORDER, SWAMY SEEKS PC’S OUSTER
Friday, 19 April 2013 | PNS | New Delhi
A day after the Supreme Court gave time till July to the CBI to finish probe in alleged irregularities in grant of approval to Aircel-Maxis, Janata party president Subramanian Swamy on Thursday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to ask P Chidambaram to step down from the post of Finance Minister till the investigation is completed.
“Since the FIPB functions under the direct supervision and with the approval of the Finance Minister Chidambaram, you will agree that it will be morally proper for you to ask the Finance Minister to step down till the inquiry is completed. In view of these circumstances it is imperative that you take this action to ensure a free and fair probe is conducted without the meddling Chidambaram,” said Swamy in a letter to PM.
Pointing out irregularities in FIPB approval, Swamy said the Finance Ministry under instructions of Chidambaram wrote a letter to Maxis on March 20, 2006 that FIPB had cleared their proposal. Maxis declared to Malaysian stock exchange that they have acquired more than 99 per cent in Aircel, while the Indian rules permit maximum foreign investment 74 per cent in telecom sector.
“A close perusal of the FIPB record however, shows that there has been fraud committed since the FIPB never gave any such a clearance,” said Swamy.
“You may recall that in November 2008 I had written to you a letter about the 2G Spectrum Scam, but you relied on the advice of your officials, and also failed to act on my application, for granting Sanction to prosecute A. Raja. You are well aware of the subsequent developments because of your inaction then. At this hour of dismally depressing corruption in the country, threatening our national security, you must act to tone up the Administration and make an example of some to send the clear message down the line to all concerned,” wrote Swamy.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/after-scs-cbi-probe-order-swamy-seeks-pcs-ouster.html