Congress Accuses BJP of Hypocrisy Over Spectrum Allocation Without Auction

The Congress party has accused the BJP government of hypocrisy over seeking Supreme Court permission to allocate spectrum without auction, alleging crony capitalism and corruption in resource allocation. The Congress claims that while the BJP criticized the administrative allocation of 2G spectrum under the UPA as a 'scam', the Modi government is now seeking to grant 2G spectrum licenses in some cases without an auction.

According to the Congress, the BJP government has already handed over public resources worth Rs 4 lakh crore to its corporate donors through various means, including the allocation of airports, coal mines, and satellite spectrum. The party alleges that the current government's demand to the Supreme Court to allocate 2G spectrum without an auction is part of the BJP's 'crony capitalism and corruption' in resource allocation.

The Union government has moved an application to the Supreme Court seeking permission to allocate certain class of spectrum through administrative processes instead of competitive auctions. This comes after the Supreme Court, in 2012, had canceled 122 telecom licenses due to the 2G spectrum scam, and ordered that spectrum, considered a scarce natural resource, should be allocated through the fair and impartial process of auction.

An administrative allocation would mean the government has the final say in deciding the procedure for selecting operators. The government has sought a Presidential Reference to the Supreme Court, which allows the President to refer matters of law or fact to the Court for its opinion. The Court may refuse to answer all or any of the queries raised in the Reference.

Why this matters: The allocation of spectrum without auction raises concerns about transparency, fairness, and potential favoritism in the allocation process. The Supreme Court's decision on the government's application could have significant implications for the telecom industry and the allocation of scarce natural resources in the country.

The Congress has vowed to launch a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the 'Adani Mega Scam' and other corrupt practices, including the 'Pay PM scam' in which the PM allegedly amassed Rs 8,200 crore through various methods of collecting funds. The party has stated that on June 4, the voters of India will show the way out to this 'organized loot party'.

Key Takeaways

• Congress accuses BJP of hypocrisy in seeking 2G spectrum allocation without auction.
• BJP criticized 2G scam under UPA but now seeks to allocate 2G spectrum without auction.
• Govt seeks SC permission to allocate spectrum through administrative processes, not auctions.
• Congress alleges BJP has handed over Rs 4 lakh crore worth resources to corporate donors.
• Congress vows to investigate 'Adani Mega Scam' and 'Pay PM scam' through a JPC.