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Controversial 2G note issued at PMOs behest: Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: The controversial finance ministry note on 2G spectrum allocation that created a political storm by suggesting that the then finance minister P Chidambaram could have prevented the scam by insisting on auction of spectrum was drafted after detailed consultations with the PMO and the Cabinet Secretariat, and issued only because of the PMOs insistence, although the DEA (Department of Economic Affairs in the finance ministry) was not in favour of sending the note. This is what finance minister Pranab Mukherjee put down on record in a two-page letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on September 26, a day after the two discussed the matter in New York. Mukherjee wrote in the letter (a copy of which is with TOI) that more details about how the note was drafted and circulated have come to light on a deeper study of available records. He sent the letter within hours of his return from New York. Giving the sequence of events, Mukherjee wrote: After it was highlighted in the media that Shri P Chidambaram was of the view that he had advocated auction for allocation of 2G spectrum, an exercise was initiated at the behest of the Cabinet Secretary beginning January, 2011 to evolve a harmonized position on the issues related to the allocation and pricing of 2G spectrum among various departments of the government. A series of meetings between the cabinet secretary and senior officials of the PMO, DEA and Department of Telecom followed, and presentations made and emails exchanged between officers, Mukherjee said. On the basis of preliminary discussions, DEA prepared a note on March 17, 2011, titled Chronology of basic facts related to pricing and allocation of 2G spectrum which contained just 12 paragraphs. A senior cabinet secretariat official (joint secretary) wrote back to say: The note sent by you has been modified substantially... The modifications have been made keeping in mind that the facts need to be elaborated extensively; interpretations which are consistent with the pan government response needs to be juxtaposed suitably; and reconciliation (to the extent possible) attempted with the past DEA positions and the position being adopted now.

                                                                                                               
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