CAG should debate 2G report on public platform: Manish Tewari

Chandigarh, Nov 24 (IANS) Challenging the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) on the 2G scam, union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari Saturday asked the CAG to come on a public platform to openly debate his findings in the report.

Interacting with media here during a meet−the−press programme, Tewari said: “Very humbly and with respect, we request the CAG to come on a public platform and have an open debate on the findings of the 2G report.”

Carrying his attack forward, the minister said that “the CAG has to give an answer to the people of India” on the misleading figures on the loss shown in the allotment of the 2G spectrum.

Tewari said the “mythical figure” of Rs.1.76 lakh crore losses to the public exchequer, as mentioned in the CAG report, was being questioned by CAG’s own officer.

Yhe fallout of the CAG report was impacting the growth story of the country after the 2G scam was highlighted, Tewari added.

A former CAG official, who dealt with the 2G audit, Friday rubbished the Rs.1.76 lakh crore ($35 billion) presumptive loss findings and claimed that BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi influenced the final audit report. This has given ample ammunition to the Congress to take a dig at the opposition party as well as the CAG.

Retired CAG director general R.P. Singh, coming before the media, claimed he only pegged the 2G loss at Rs.37,000 crore, but when the final report was brought to him for signing, it had the Rs.1.76 lakh crore as the loss figure. Singh said just days before the report was finalised, CAG officials had met Joshi.

−−Indo−Asian News Service

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IANS 2012-11-24 15:46:13