Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran on Saturday denied any wrongdoing in 2G spectrum allocation and its pricing during his tenure as telecom minister in 2006 in the UPA-1.
Responding to media reports that he had allegedly tried to armtwist the PM on pricing issue, Mr Dayanidhi told reporters that his 2006 letter on spectrum pricing to the PM was a normal communication and the media was making an issue of his letter connecting it to the present scenario.
“The media is making a mountain of my letter to the PM. It is not right for the media to judge a letter without seeing the attachments and jump to conclusions. The media is trying to connect the 2006 letter to today’s scenario, both are different,” he said and alleged there was a selective leak of communications between him and the PM.
Mr Dayanadhi said unfortunately none of the media came and showed to the public the terms and references of the GoM, but only abused and also damaged his party DMK.
On his party colleague and former telecom minister A Raja, who had to resign in the wake of the spectrum controversy, Mr Dayanidhi said Mr Raja was capable of defending himself and he was doing a “good job” of it now. He also asserted that ties between DMK and Congress are strong.
Describing Dr Manmohan Singh as “bold” and “honest” leader, he said there was not even a single controversy till he was heading the IT ministry. “Most of the spectrum was sitting with the defence ministry and it was at my instance that a Group of Ministers was set up to study the issue,” he claimed.