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Editorial
MR. PRIME MINISTER - PLEASE SPEAK OUT

 

 The following chronological events give a brief resume of "Telecom Scam" the latest gift to the companies by BJP Government:

December 7, 1998 Jagmohan takes over as Minister of Communication.
January 15, 1999 February 15 is set as the deadline for companies to pay 20% of the licence fee dues and securities the remaining 80% through bank guarantees.
February 18, 1999 PMO writes to DOT asking it to extend the deadline to 31. 3. 99.
March 4, 1999 DOT offers to delay action until March 31, if operators comply with deadline.
April 18, 1999 Jagmohan orders furnishing of fresh bank guarantees for outstanding licence fee dues.
May 7, 1999 Letter of Indents for Usha Telecom and Hughes Ispat are cancelled.
May 22, 1999 Licences of Koshika and Airtel Digilink terminated.
June 8, 1999 Jagmohan transferred as he orders encashment of Koshika's Rs. 104 crore bank guarantee.
June 28, 1999 Note submitted to Cabinet Secretariat by Dot for migration of existing licence of cellular, basic and value added telecom service to new Telecom Policy '99.
July 5, 1999 Ministry of Finance sends series of objections on the Cabinet note.
July 6, 1999 A supplementary note for Cabinet is prepared with the view-points of the DOT thereon.

Both the Cabinet note dated 28. 6. 99 as well as supplementary note dated 6. 7. 99 end with the following line:

"this note has been seen and approved by PM in his capacity as Minister of Communication."

The Prime Minister first used his prerogative to change a Cabinet Minister in the Caretaker Government and then acted in his dual capacity as both initiating as well as approving authority to change a policy decision, which has been castigated as a scam by the Opposition, objected to by the Hon'ble President and questioned by both the Election Commission and the Hon'ble Delhi High Court. It is, therefore, Prime Minister and the Prime Minister alone, who in his personal and official capacity owes an explanation to the nation and this responsibility can not be relegated to spokesman of his Party. The silence of the otherwise eloquent Prime Minister on the issue strengthens the public suspicion about the hidden hand of either the PMO or PMH behind the whole affair. Please speak out, Mr. Prime Minister.

9th August 1999.   



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