Sibal eats crow, says didn't mean to offend CAG

After a rap from the Supreme Court and Parliament's PAC, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said that he meant no disrespect to any institution by his comments on the CAG report on 2G scam, but maintained that "canards" had to be responded to.

After a rap from the Supreme Court and Parliament's PAC, Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said that he meant no disrespect to any institution by his comments on the CAG report on 2G scam, but maintained that "canards" had to be responded to.

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"I mean no disrespect to any institution... I have neither directly or indirectly tried to interfere with any process going on," Sibal said. He, however, said that the government needed to respond to canards which were being spread because of the CAG's report on 2G spectrum scam.

The CAG had given its report in November last year saying the government may have lost up to Rs 1.76 lakh crore due to sale of spectrum in 2008 at 2001 prices.

"I am fully aware of my responsibilities, my obligations, my duties not only as a Minister but also as a citizen of this country," he said in response to PAC Chairman's letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

Sibal, meanwhile, welcomed Supreme Court's observation that no one should comment on CAG report. "I wish that Supreme Court had made this observations earlier as that could have prevented an unnecessary controversy."