UPA II 'a coalition in corruption': Prakash Javadekar

In a recent book, former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal alleged that Manmohan Singh had warned him of "harm" if he did not cooperate in the 2G matter

BJP today termed the previous UPA government "a coalition in corruption" in the wake of allegations by former TRAI Chairman Pradip Baijal that ex-Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had warned him of "harm" if he did not cooperate in the 2G matter.

"The revelation makes it clear that it was a coalition in corruption...," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.

Baijal in his book has alleged that Singh had warned him he would be "harmed" if he did not "cooperate in the scheme of things in the 2G case."

In his self-published book, "The Complete Story of Indian Reforms: 2G, Power and Private Enterprise - A Practitioner's Diary', Baijal, who was appointed head of the telecom watchdog by the NDA government in 2003, said the 2G scam trail began under UPA's Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran regime.

"They (CBI) had warned me in each case that I would be harmed if I didn't cooperate. Incidentally, this was exactly what the eminent economist Prime Minister had told me would happen if I did not cooperate in their scheme of things in the 2G case," Baijal writes in an apparent reference to 2G case and disinvestment issues.

On former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's remarks against the BJP government, he said the criticism reflects the "desperation" of Congress leaders.

"It is ridiculous," Javadekar said when asked about Chidambaram's remarks that the present government was copying the schemes of the UPA government and implementing it in another name.

"Nobody knew the schemes in UPA government and there was no participation," he said.

"By NDA's schemes we have empowered the people by providing them bank accounts and insurance. Criticism is the desperation of leaders of Congress and nobody listens to them now," he added.

He said NDA's motto was to provide employment while Congress' was unemployment. NDA government wanted to create industries at a distance of one km on highways in the industrial corridor, which was being opposed by Chidambaram, he claimed.

Javadekar, here to launch a massive tree planting drive, said India's prestige has been enhanced in the world community due to development schemes and other initiatives of the Modi government, which has completed one year in office.

The biggest achievement was the NDA government's ability to create confidence and hope among people by giving them social security and relief from price rise that had been the order of the day during last 10 years, Javedekar said.