Shiv Sena takes potshots at BJP after acquittal of 2G scam accused

The party on Saturday also criticised Comptroller and Auditor General Vinod Rai in ‘Saamana’

Two days after the special CBI court acquitted all the accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam, the Shiv Sena mocked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. (HT File Photo)

In an editorial in the party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, the Sena on Saturday wondered why the accused had been jailed if there had been no scam. “The BJP created a poll issue out of the case when the UPA was in power. They even won the general elections by campaigning against the 2G spectrum case. Now that the court has acquitted the accused, the BJP should respond. If there wasn’t any scam, then why were the accused in jail for so long; and if there was a scam, why were they acquitted,” it asked.

The editorial also questioned the authenticity of the investigation carried out by former Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai. The CAG report in 2010 had pegged the loss on account of the alleged scam at Rs1.76 lakh crore. The special CBI court on Thursday, however, observed that it was a ‘scam’ created by some people by exaggerating figures to “astronomical levels”.

“Now the view taken by CAG Vinod Rai on this issue comes under a cloud of suspicion. If the gentleman has attempted to help a political party for personal gain, he will be exposed. There is no reason to take Rai’s word as the truth,” the Sena said.

If Rai has constructed an “imaginary” case, it shows clear misuse of office. “Based on his claims, the BJP leaders made accusations [against the UPA],” the editorial added.