A. Raja: Difference between revisions
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On November 14, 2010, he announced that he would step down <ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/telcom-minister-a-raja-resigns-pti-66387 2G scam: Raja resigns, DMK says it's still part of Union Government<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> from his cabinet post, over the 2G spectrum allocation scandal. |
On November 14, 2010, he announced that he would step down <ref>[http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/telcom-minister-a-raja-resigns-pti-66387 2G scam: Raja resigns, DMK says it's still part of Union Government<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> from his cabinet post, over the 2G spectrum allocation scandal. |
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== Spectrum Scandal == |
== Spectrum Scandal (www.spectrumscandal.com) == |
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{{Main|2G spectrum scam}} |
{{Main|2G spectrum scam}} |
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{{See|Nira Radia tapes controversy}} |
{{See|Nira Radia tapes controversy}} |
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Revision as of 16:05, 6 March 2011
 |
Andimuthu Raja | |
|---|---|
| Union Cabinet Minister for Communications and Information Technology | |
| In office 2007–2010 | |
| Prime Minister | Manmohan Singh |
| Preceded by | Dayanidhi Maran |
| Succeeded by | Kapil Sibal |
| Constituency | Nilgiris |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 May 1963 Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India |
| Died | |
| Resting place | |
| Political party | DMK |
| Spouse | M.A. Parameswari |
| Children | Mayuri Raja |
| Parent | |
| Residence | Perambalur |
| Profession | Lawyer Politician |
As of September 22, 2006 Source: [1] | |
A. Raja (Tamil: ஆ. ராஜா) (ஆண்டிமுத்து ராஜா) (born May 10, 1963, Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India) is an Indian politician from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) political party. He is a member of the 15th Lok Sabha representing the Nilgiris constituency of Tamil Nadu. Raja was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 1996 and first served as minister of state from 1999 to 2003. On being re-elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004, he became a cabinet minister in the UPA government. In 2007, he became cabinet minister for communication and information technology. On being re-elected in 2009 he was again appointed cabinet minister for communication and information technology until being tainted in the 2G spectrum scam and resigning in 2010.
Resignations
On October 17, 2008 he submitted his post-dated resignation to the D.M.K party chief M. Karunanidhi over the killings of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka.[1] His resignation was a part of the mass resignation of all the D.M.K ministers forming a part of the coalition UPA central government.
On November 14, 2010, he announced that he would step down [2] from his cabinet post, over the 2G spectrum allocation scandal.
Spectrum Scandal (www.spectrumscandal.com)
The 2G spectrum financial scandal in the Telecommunications and IT Ministry under A.Raja is noteworthy as the largest political corruption case in modern Indian history, amounting to a record $40 billion loss from underpricing to the Government of India.[citation needed] The alleged modus operandi was telecom bandwidth being grossly undervalued and offered to a chosen few with vested interests, on a dubious 'First-Come-First-Served' basis. It is alleged that it should have been put under a transparent auction system, purportedly advised by higher office.
The bandwidth-spectrum allocation of 2G bandwidth had later come under criticism for gross irregularities. An FIR filed by the CBI claims that the allocation was not done as per market prices, resulting in a scam worth ₹200 crore (US$24 million).[3] However it had been alleged by Arun Jaitley of Bhartiya Janata Party that the scam is worth around ₹176,000 crore (US$21 billion). The Comptroller and Auditor General holds Raja personally responsible for the sale of 2G spectrum at 2001 rates in 2008, resulting the previously mentioned loss of up to Rs. 1.76 lakh crores (US$40 billion) to the national exchequer. [4] In August, 2010, evidence was submitted by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) showing that Raja had personally signed and approved the majority of the questionable allocations.[5] Although the political opposition was demanding his resignation over the 2G spectrum scam, Raja initially refused to resign stating his innocence, and this view was backed by his party president M.Karunanidhi.[6]
The financial scam eventually led to Raja's resignation [7] on the 14th of November, 2010. There will be further criminal investigation and action on Raja with reports being filed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
In 2011, the results of an investigation by retired judge Shivraj Patil, who was appointed by current telecom minister Kapil Sibal, has also found Raja to have been directly responsible for "procedural lapses" regarding the spectrum scandal.[8] The CBI and Enforcement Directorate estimate that Raja could have made as much as Rs 3,000 crore from the alleged bribes.[9]
Raja and two former associates were arrested on February 2, 2011. The 3 have been taken to Patiala House Courts for enquiries by the CBI on 3 February 2011[10] He was backed by his party DMK after his arrest and in general meeting in Chennai party passed a resolution in favor of Raja stating that until charges are proven he is not guilty. [11]
References
- ^ 14 DMK MPs hand in resignation letters - India - DNA
- ^ 2G scam: Raja resigns, DMK says it's still part of Union Government
- ^ "Raja faces heat as CBI raids DoT on 2G scam". India Today. October 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ Singh, Shalini (28 October 2009). "BJP takes on Raja over telecom spectrum scam". Times of India. Retrieved 2009-11-08.
- ^ Joseph, Josy (August 30, 2010). "CAG draft report nails Raja role in 2G scam". The Times Of India.
- ^ "Raja adamant, says won't step down, ready for probe". The Times Of India. November 12, 2010.
- ^ DMK blinks, Raja quits - Hindustan Times
- ^ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Justice-Shivraj-Patil-submits-2G-report-to-Kapil-Sibal/articleshow/7395538.cms
- ^ Dhananjay Mahapatra (February 11, 2011). "A Raja made Rs 3,000cr in bribes". The Times of India. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
- ^ "2G scam: CBI arrests former telecom minister A Raja". The Times of India. 2 February 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2011.
- ^ "DMK backs Raja after arrest in 2G scam". IndiaVoice. 2011-2-3.
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