Panel on ISRO scam is a cover up: BJP

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IBNS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said the panel constituted by the Centre to probe ISRO?s S-band spectrum scam is a ?cover up?.

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“It seems the objective of the new panel set up by the government is an attempt to cover up. In fact, all decisions that the UPA government is taking these days to answer allegations are turning out to be a cover up,” BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said at a press conference here on Thursday.

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The Centre has constituted a high-powered review committee to ascertain the procedural aspects of the agreement between Antrix, the commercial arm of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and private firm Devas, after the space organization was accused of allowing the latter permission to use its scarce S-band spectrum at a throwaway price.

?In a press release, ISRO on Thursday said the committee, inter alia, will review the technical, commercial, procedural and financial aspects of the agreement between ANTRIX and M/s. Devas Multimedia Pvt. Ltd, besides the adequacy of procedures and approval processes followed by ANTRIX, ISRO and Department of Space, and to suggest improvements and changes.

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The Committee has been directed to submit its recommendations to the Prime Minister as Minister-in-charge of the Department of Space within one month.

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The Committee Members are B. K. Chaturvedi, Member Planning Commission and former Cabinet Secretary and Prof. Roddam Narasimha, Member Space Commission.

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?Chaturvedi was Cabinet secretary and among those who approved the agreement. Is it right if decisions taken by some people are investigated by the same people?? Sitharaman said.