Cong may not seek action against Telecom Minister

Congress today indicated that it will not seek any action against Telecom Minister A Raja after raids on the office of Department of Telecom (DoT) in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of 2G spectrum to new players, saying the FIR only named officials.

Congress on Friday indicated that it will not seek any action against Telecom Minister A Raja after raids on the office of Department of Telecom (DoT) in connection with alleged irregularities in allocation of 2G spectrum to new players, saying the FIR only named officials.

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"Since the FIR names only officials, the question of propriety does not arise...CBI has registered a case against some officials and the whole matter is still under investigation," party spokesman Manish Tewari told reporters.

Responding to a volley of questions on whether Raja should be allowed to continue in his post as raids were conducted in offices under his ministry, he said the question of propriety extended only to those who were named in the FIR.

Tewari said in legal matters, we should stick to law and in this matter it was the FIR.

On whether this has sullied the image of the UPA and the Congress was defending its ally DMK even though the minister had said all the procedures laid down by the TRAI were followed and the decisions taken after consultation with the Prime Minister, Tewari said, "I have nothing to add to what I said...The matter of propriety only rests there (those named in FIR)".

The minister has already ruled our his resignation on the issue.