New Delhi/Chennai: For the second time in three days, Telecom Minister A Raja today ruled out his resignation over the 2G spectrum allocation issue, saying "there is no need for it."
"There is no question of me resigning and there is no need for it," he told reporters before leaving for Delhi this evening.
Raja today met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for the second time in the last 24 hours and is understood to have discussed the 2G spectrum allocation issue.
He met Karunanidhi at his residence here and the two are understood to have discussed during the 30-minute meeting the implications of the CAG report on the alleged scam, over which the opposition is seeking the Minister's removal.
Asked why he had met the DMK supremo twice in a short time, Raja said, "It is a very usual thing. I meet him twice every day (whenever I am in Chennai)."
Asked whether he was going to resign from the government, Raja said this has not been discussed during his meeting with Karunanidhi.
"It has not been discussed. That question does not arise," he said.
On being asked whether the Prime Minister will make a statement on the issue, he said, "I don't know whether PM will give a statement."
Pressed further whether he was going to put in his papers tonight, he said, "There is nothing like that. CM (Karunanidhi) has not told me anything (about resigning)."
Soon after his arrival from Delhi last night, Raja had met the DMK chief. The minister reached Delhi in the evening with Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi, Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and DMK Leader and former Union Shipping Minister T R Baalu.
On a day speculation was rife that Raja's exit from the Union Cabinet was inevitable, the top Congress leadership met in Delhi and discussed the issue anticipating uproar in Parliament by the opposition which has been demanding his removal.
Cong meets on Raja
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi and senior leaders Pranab Mukherjee and Ahmad Patel, political secretary to the Congress chief, attended the meeting amid growing view in the party that Raja's continuance in office has become untenable.
The Opposition has been demanding removal of Raja after the government auditor CAG is believed to have indicted the minister for not distributing 2G Spectrum in a transparent manner resulting in a revenue loss of over Rs.1.76 lakh crore.
On his part, Mukherjee refused to comment on the Spectrum controversy, saying whatever has to be said will be stated in Parliament.
"Parliament is in session. Whatever needs to be said on Telecom Minister A Raja, will be said in Parliament," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi.
Meanwhile, In Thiruvananthapuram, Defence Minister A K Antony said there was "no cover up and no witch hunt" while declining to make any comment on the Spectrum row.
Antony said he did not want to engage in a public debate on the issue. "Wait and see," he shot back on being asked what was the Congress position on the demand for Raja's resignation.
DMK stands with Raja
Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi also dismissed speculation that she may replace Raja. "You are talking to a Member of Parliament who will continue to be an MP," she said on being asked about her replacing Raja.
Kanimozhi also saw no strain between the Congress and the DMK on the issue.
"As far as I know, the alliance between the Congress and the DMK is very strong and very good. People who have to worry about the alliance is the Left parties which are in alliance with the AIADMK in the state".
Unrelenting Opposition
The Opposition parties, including BJP and the Left, made it clear that they will not allow Parliament to function till Raja is removed.
They are also planning to corner the Prime Minister after Raja's comments that he had kept the PMO in the loop at every stage during the Spectrum allocation.
BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar alleged that the affidavit submitted by the government in Supreme Court on the 2G Spectrum allotment "is testimony of the abject and complete surrender of the Congress before its partner DMK for mere survival in office".
JD(U)'s Shivanand Tiwari said Raja's resignation has become secondary and an explanation from the Prime Minister has become "primary" following the affidavit.
CPI leader D Raja said that since the Prime Minister is the head of the government, it was for him to explain the matter.
SC hearing on 2G petitions
A decision on the continuance of Telecom Minister A Raja in the Union Cabinet is expected to be taken after tomorrow's Supreme Court hearing on
two petitions against him on the 2G Spectrum scam.
The petitions have been filed by NGO, CPIL, and by Janata Party leader Subramanian Swamy, alleging Rs 70,000 crore corruption in the entire Spectrum allocation.
During the last hearing on October 29, the Supreme Court had slammed the CBI for its "slipshod" investigations into the 2G Spectrum allocation issue and even wondered how Raja was continuing in office.
The Telecom ministry has claimed that new licenses and 2G Spectrum was distributed as per the existing policy which were followed by all the predecessors of Raja.
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