New Delhi: Criticising former prime minister Manmohan Singh, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday said that Dr Singh could have put down his foot and not allowed A. Raja to issue 2G licences on first-come-first-serve basis or cancelled them once the news of scandal broke out. The former finance minister held that mishandling of 2G scam hurt the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.
“2G could have been handled differently. In the sense that the Prime minister could have put his foot down and said I am sorry, I would not let you go forward and follow the first come and first served route. He could have said that, otherwise after the 2G licences were granted he could have said that we cancel these licences ourselves without waiting for the court verdict,” Mr Chidambaram said during a book launch here. He said that once it came up as a scandal, the Centre should have cancelled licences.
Former finance minister P. Chidambaram said that though he suggested that the government cancel the 2G licences, it was decided that the courts should have the final view.
“Yes, I suggested it. I am sure that it was considered but the decision was that let the court take the final view,” he said.Mr Chidambaram pointed out that the issue was not discussed in the Cabinet.
“These are ideas which are discussed informally in small groups, in committees. I think the idea was suggested but the idea was not accepted,” he said.Mr Chidambaram said that had the UPA-II cancelled those 2G licences itself it ‘’’might have contained the damage.” “I have always believed that it was a pretty simple decision rather than suffer a judgement and then try to work out the consequences of a judgement.”
He said that may be what held back those who had to take those decision was “we might rang ourselves in numerous litigation launched by the licences.” “I think it could have been handled rather than suffer a very damaging judgement,” said Mr Chidambaram. Mr Chidambaram also suggested that Dr Singh was aware of the retrospective amendment in Income Tax act which was brought by then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee. The retrospective amendment in the income tax is considered as one of the mis-step by the UPA government which hit foreign investment in the country
“Budget proposals are only between the finance minister and the Prime Minister ... I think the matter was discussed at some level and the decision was taken,” added Mr P. Chidambaram on retrospective amendment in IT Act.
