Joshi opposed spectrum auction, says Congress

The battle between the Congress and the Public Accounts Committee chairman Murali Manohar Joshi intensified with the ruling party accusing the BJP veteran of double-speak on 2G spectrum allocation.

The battle between the Congress and the Public Accounts Committee chairman Murali Manohar Joshi intensified with the ruling party accusing the BJP veteran of double-speak on 2G spectrum allocation.

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Referring to a confidential letter written by Joshi to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2007, the Congress claimed that Joshi was opposed to spectrum auction and even raised apprehensions about spectrum going to private hands in large quantities.

In his letter, Joshi said, "some operators have suggested that spectrum should be auctioned which means that there could be a case of hoarding and cartelisation to the detriment of MTNL and BSNL."

He further wrote: "I would therefore, request you (Singh) to protect the interest of our PSUs and the interest of the genuine players."

Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi said it is "unfortunate" that while Joshi opposed spectrum auction earlier, his party levels allegations against UPA for 2G spectrum allocation.

Joshi is expected to address a press conference on Thursday to reply to these charges.