2G case verdict: Here’s how leaders are reacting to the court’s decision

A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted all accused including DMK leaders A Raja and Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi in the alleged Rs 1.76 lakh crore 2G scam case while holding that the prosecution has failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Responding to the court’s decision, former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said: “I do not want to boast anything. The Court’s judgment has to be respected and I am glad that the Court has pronounced unambiguously that all this is massive propaganda which has been done against the UPA without any foundation.”

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told media: “In 2007-08, spectrum was not given by auction, but on the basis of price discovery which was based on 2001 prices. Even within the policy implementation, there was huge element of arbitration.”

“The fact that the policy caused loss is clear from the fact that the subsequent auctions got a much higher price,” he further said and added that acquittal is not a badge of honour and “I am sure that the investigative agencies will have a close look at it (the judgement & acquittal of accused) & decide what has to be done.”

Social activist and anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare on said: "We cannot comment much on the Court's verdict. Whatever they decide is correct and rightly done. We are no one to judge on the verdict".

"The court will only look for evidence and if no proof were found on the accused then, nothing can be done," he added.

Reacting to the acquittal of DMK leaders in the 2G spectrum case, party working president M K Stalin on Thursday said the case was a ‘conspiracy’ to destroy the party. “It was a conspiracy to destroy the DMK. I would like to tell (the media), you made this case so big to taint the DMK. Now, it has been proved that we haven’t made any mistake,” Stalin said, addressing reporters. “Now, do justice and take this judgment to the people.”

Kanimozhi told The Hindu that Congress president Rahul Gandhi congratulated her on her acquittal. “It is a big day for all of us,” Ms. Kanimozhi quoted him as telling her.

"I have always believed that I would see the light at the end of tunnel,'' said Ms Kanimozhi. ''I have been waiting these last 6 years for this day," she told mediapersons in New Delhi.

"I was made an accused just because I was a director in a compnay and for only 20 days, where I had not attended even a single Board meeting and where I had not signed a single document," she said. "This speaks of the depth to which the system stooped to ensure that I was dragged in so that the DMK is defeated in the elections which was hardly 5 months away."

"Injustice will be defeated, good deeds will triumph" These were the words from DMK chief M. Karunanidhi. Probably the first words from the veteran leader who has been staying away from public life due to health issues.

"It's most unfortunate that an atmosphere of suspicion was created and Opposition gets on the bandwagon that everything the UPA did was wrong. The telecom sector is in dire straits today, thanks to Vinod Rai and the leaders of the (then) Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Our stand has been vindicated," said Congress leader Kapil Sibal.

Former junior telecom minister Milind Deora siad: "The CAG report allowed BJP to mislead the nation & play the role of a highly irresponsible opposition. This won them an election, but hurt India’s competitiveness & straddled banks with ₹4 lakh crore of debt resulting from license cancellations & auctions."

Terming it a historic verdict, DMK working president and half brother of Kanimozhi, M.K. Stalin said, "This was a politically motivated case. It was a well planned one and with false figures, they built up arguments. Now, we are extremely delighted that everyone has been acquitted. I have a request for the media. When this case started, you blew it up so much to make sure everyone knew about it, now please make sure this judgement too gets as much visibility."

Reacting to the development BJP leader Subramanian Swamy tweeted: “Govt. must prove its bonafides by filing an immediate appeal in High Court.”

Dr. Swamy, the then Janata Party president, was among many who knocked court doors seeking probe into the alleged multi-crore scam in allocating 2G spectrum. In addition to Mr. Raja, he wanted the court to probe the role of the then Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram in the case. However, his plea was quashed by the Supreme Court.

Congress leader Manish Tewari, reacting to the 2G verdict said the former CAG Vinod Rai must apologize for an "imbecile" report.

"Mr Rai, former C&G, must apologise to the nation for throwing presumptive sensational corrosive numbers into public discourse. He was author of imbecile 1.76 thousand crore loss theory that I had destroyed during my cross examination of Rai in the JPC. The court has affirmed JPC report," Mr. Tewari said.

Speaking to media here, Hazare said "We cannot comment much on the court's verdict. Whatever they decide is correct and rightly done. We are no one to judge the court's verdict."

"The court will only look for evidences and if no proof was found against the accused then nothing can be done," he added.