Pawar on defensive, trashes reports of links to DB Realty

A fresh controversy brewed today after corporate lobbyist Niira Radia reportedly linked Union minister Sharad Pawar to 2G scam-tainted DB Realty firm but the senior leader trashed her claim.

Pawar was reacting to media reports which had quoted Radia as telling the CBI that he may be controlling DB Realty and may have pursued the issue of spectrum and license for Swan Telecom with former Telecom Minister A Raja.

Her statement was part of the CBI chargesheet but she herself made it clear that it was the perception in Mumbai that she was talking about and she had no documentary proof to back it.

Pawar said, "This is absolutely a lie and foolish statement. I have no financial interest in this company.DB Realty and that telecom company I have no relations at all. I have no financial, not one 'naya paisa' interest in that company".

He said he knew DB Realty's Vinod Goenka's father for the last 35 years and he had set up a milk processing unit in Baramati about 20 years back. "We, all farmers, are helping him in getting good quality milk. We have a relationship. There are no two opinions about that but we have no involvement or association with the telecom company," he said.

Pointing out that Radia had herself stated that she had no proof to back the charge, Pawar said he had no talk with the corporate lobbyist or anyone else with regard to grant of licence for spectrum use.

"I am looking after agriculture of the country, not telecom," he said.