Cancel S-band deal immediately: BJP

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BJP asks how a panel led by BK Chaturvedi could probe the issue when he himself approved it.

New Delhi: Demanding immediate cancellation of Antrix-Devas deal for scarce S-band spectrum, BJP on Thursday asked how a high-powered panel headed by former Cabinet Secretary BK Chaturvedi could probe the issue when he himself was among those who had approved it in 2005.

"The deal should be cancelled immediately. Various government departments had raised questions on the agreement. It had been seven months now that government was aware of the issue," BJP spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters.

In reply to a question, she said her party is not being unreasonable in demanding an immediate cancellation of the deal as the matter was before the government for the past seven months.

On the appointment of Chaturvedi as head of the panel, she said, "Is it right if decisions taken by some people are investigated by the same people?"

She claimed that Chaturvedi as Cabinet Secretary was one of those who had approved the agreement between ISRO's commercial arm Antrix and Devas Multimedia.

Sitharaman said the BJP was "very worried" that every decision the government was taking to answer allegations was turning out to be an attempt to "cover up".

The two-member Committee, headed by B K Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission, will review the technical, commercial, procedural and financial aspects of the agreement between Antrix and Devas Multimedia Pvt Ltd, an official statement today said.

It will also review the adequacy of procedures and approval processes followed by Antrix, ISRO and Department of Space, and suggest improvements and changes.

The BJP spokesperson said while she was not fully aware of the terms of reference of the committee, it was important for it to trace the money trail.

"The money was routed through Mauritius by a holding company based in the US," she alleged.

She also questioned how the S-band or the 'gold band' used by the Coast Guard and intelligence agencies could be leased to a company based in the US. "In a way this means entry of foreign firms in the defence sector," she said.