Manish Tewari urges CAG to clear air in 2G spectrum allocation

New Delhi, Nov 24: Amid allegations and counter-allegations over figure of presumptive losses in the 2G allocation, Union Minister Manish Tewari on Saturday asked the the CAG to clear the air over the matter which had impacted "India's story in the public domain" in the past two years.

"The nation needs to know how Rs 2,645 crore of loss (in 2G spectrum allocation) turned a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Questioning the "mythical" loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore, the Information and Broadcasting minister said "the CAG needs to answer to people as India's story has been impacted by such discourse within the public domain during the last two years."

"Let there be a public debate. Let CAG come and answer because these mythical and sensational figures have derailed India's story in last two years. The 2G report has made public discourse extremely vitiated," Tewari said.

Noting that public has the right to know the truth, he claimed the former CAG official in his draft report had written that the loss on 2G spectrum allocation because of first come first serve basis was only Rs 2,645 crore.

"Since in principle, it was decided that the spectrum allocation was not to be auctioned the loss estimation was not possible," the Congress' Lok Sabha MP from Ludhiana said.

"Now the question arises, how Rs 2,645 crore loss ballooned to Rs 1.76 lakh crore," he asked.(