Congress claims 2G verdict a victory of truth

New Delhi/Chennai, Feb 4 (ANI): Commenting on the trial court's judgment, which dismissed Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy's plea to make Home Minister P Chidambaram co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam case, the Congress party on Saturday said it's a victory of the truth.

"This is a victory of the truth," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told media here.

"It's unfortunate that Swamy insisted on catching the attention. We were positive that the court will not say anything against Chidambaram. No investigations ordered against Chidambaram, he is not being made an accused in the case," said Soni.

Meanwhile, defending Chidambaram, Parliamentary Affairs Minister V. Narayanasamy said: "The policy of first-come, first served was taken by the NDA in 2001.It was approved by the cabinet in 2003. It was implemented by the NDA government. Pramod Mahajan, Arun Shourie, Dayanidhi Maran, when they were in the NDA government, they allocated the spectrum on first come first served basis and our government also followed the same policy."

Further slamming Swamy, Narayanasamy said he deliberately targeted Chidambaram

"There is no question of criminality, culpability or corruption against Chidambaram. Subramanian Swamy, because of the enmity, personnel rivalry is trying to tarnish the image of Chidambaram and I strongly condemn that," he said.

Swamy has alleged that Chidambaram was equally culpable like former telecom minister A Raja, as he also had a role in deciding the spectrum pricing and allowing telecom companies to off-load shares to foreign firms

The apex court on Thursday quashed 122 spectrum licences granted after January 2008, and asked a trial court to decide whether Chidambaram needs to be probed for his role in the spectrum case.

The apex court verdict was in response to Swamy's petition seeking a CBI probe into Chidambaram's alleged role in the spectrum scam, and on two pleas filed by noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan seeking cancellation of 2G licences and the setting up of a SIT to probe the scam.

Swamy had on January 7 submitted documents seeking prosecution of Chidambaram in the case before a Delhi court.

The telecom scam, one of India's biggest graft cases ever, may have cost 39.57 billion dollars in expected revenue losses to the public exchequer as per the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India's report. (ANI)