Uproar over influence by corporate lobbies in 2G allocation

Reports of alleged influence by some corporate lobbies on allocation of 2G spectrum, was today vociferously raised in both House of Parliament, leading to adjournment of Rajya Sabha twice.

As soon as Rajya Sabha met for the day, AIADMK members led by V Maitreyan stood up showing placards and copies of media reports carrying the allegation. They demanded dismissal of Telecom Minister A Raja.

Chairman Hamid Ansari asked them to take their seats and allow the Question Hour to proceed. At this point, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley stood up and said earlier when the phone tapping issue had come up, the Home Minister had given a statement in the House saying it had not authorised any telephone tapping of politicians.

"However, after going through today's media reports it seems that it (tapping) is very much authorised and contents of conversations too are easily available," he said.

Jaitley sought to know from the government whether some corporate lobbyists were influencing allocation of portfolios of ministers in the government, and whether the 2G spectrum allocation was guided by these forces. "We need the government's response on these two issues," he said.

Though Jaitley took his seat, Maitreyan and other AIADMK members continued showing copies of the media report, repeatedly saying "this is authorised phone tapping".

CPI(M) member Sitaram Yechury also got up and sought government's response. BJP members Venkaiah Naidu, Prakash Javadekar and S S Ahluwalia too joined the AIADMK members.

At this point, Ansari said, "the House has been observing with great distress the repeated adjournment of Question Hour since the last few days. If the House feels that Question Hour is so irrelevant, then I will shift it by invoking Rule 38, a decision on which I will take in the course of the day."

As per Rule 38 of Rajya Sabha the first hour of every sitting shall be available for asking and answering of questions, unless the Chairman otherwise directs. Ansari adjourned the House till 12 noon. When the House met again, similar scenes were witnessed leading to its adjournment for 15 minutes.

In the Lok Sabha, AIADMK and Left members rushed to the well displaying copies of the media report and the newspaper, demanding an explanation from the Prime Minister on the outcome of CBI probe into alleged allocation scam.

Speaker Meira Kumar said that members should raise the issue in Zero Hour and observed that making allegations was against the rules. The members agreed and went back to their seats, allowing Question Hour to continue.