M Karunanidhi says A Raja won?t resign over 2G Spectrum scam

Chennai : Giving a clean chit to Union Telecom minister A Raja in the 2G Spectrum scam, Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK supreme M Karunanidhi on Friday said there was not need for his party MP to resign from the Union Cabinet.

?Where does that question arise from? It doesn’t arise at all,? Karunanidhi said, dismissing chances of Raja resigning in the wake of the controversy.

Coming out in strong defence of his party leader, the chief minister said, ?He is not a criminal. We are not guilty.

?He just went by the procedures set by his predecessors Pramod Mahajan and Arun Shourie of the previous NDA government. What is wrong in that? They came up with first come, first serve policy.?

?When he has followed the rules, how can you say Raja flouted the rules?? Karunanidhi asked.

He said there was no need for DMK to take up the issue with the Congress, which heads the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the Centre, as Raja was not in the wrong.

Earlier on Friday, Raja had in New Delhi ruled out his resignation over the 2G spectrum issue and maintained that contracts were according to the law.

?The question does not arise at all. We will prove that everything has been done according to the law,? Raja said.

Asked if would step down in the wake of the mounting attacks from the opposition, including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Raja said: ?Where does that question arise from? It doesn?t arise at all.?

He was also critical at the AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa for her offer to support the United Progressive Alliance Government if the Congress dumped the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) and sacked him.

“The CAG report is still pending in Parliament,” Raja quipped while rejecting the demand for his resignation.

Raja said he had followed all the norms set by the cabinet in 1999 for the 2G auction.

He further said that he will not comment on the spectrum allocation issue as it is ?sub-judice? and said the affidavit submitted by the Telecom Department before the Supreme Court is enough.

The Government’s auditor has held Raja directly responsible for costing the Government Rs1.40 lakh crore through his controversial allocation of 2G spectrum in 2008.