Reprieve for Raja

When the demand for Communications Minister A Raja’s resignation was at its strongest in the wake of the spectrum scam , Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's refrain was: “An inquiry is on. A person is presumed innocent until proved guilty.” But Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was quick at reading the smoke signals. So, he asked the PM: “Does Raja have to go?” The PM was prepared for this. Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with Karunanidhi’s daughter, Member of Parliament Kanimozhi. It was clear that if Raja were to be replaced, she would become minister. In that case, the council of ministers would have three ministers from the same family — Dayanidhi Maran, K Alagiri and Kanimozhi. So, replying to Karunanidhi's query, the PM just shook his head. And Raja got a reprieve.