This refers to the edit “Auctioning nonsense” (September 23). The fact remains that the allocation and pricing of 2G spectrum was a major policy decision taken by the Cabinet in its “collective wisdom”. Hence it must own up to the decision. An A Raja or a P Chidambaram cannot be singled out for culpability and made sacrificial lambs. They had no discretion of their own and did not subvert or overturn government’s stated policy. If P Chidambaram could have stopped the scam, the prime minister or the Cabinet could have stopped it with greater authority. The blame for the Cabinet’s failure to insist on auction and rule out first-come-first-served principle cannot be shifted to individual ministers even if they held the portfolios of telecommunications and finance.
G David Milton, Maruthancode
Readers should write to:
The Editor, Business Standard,
Nehru House,
4, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg,
New Delhi 110 002,
Fax: (011) 23720201;
letters@bsmail.in
All letters should have a postal address and telephone number