Spectrum allotment: CPI-M for PM's intervention

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) said on Friday Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should take appropriate steps to ensure accountability in the controversial spectrum allotment issue in the wake of CBI searches and telecom minister A Raja ruling out resignation.

"Raja has said he will not resign. Now it is up to the prime minister and the Union cabinet to take appropriate measures to ensure accountability in the case," CPI-M Politburo member Sitaram Yechury told reporters in New Delhi.

He was replying to questions on the spectrum allotment issue which is alleged to have caused a revenue loss of Rs 22,000 crore (Rs 220 billion) to the public exchequer.

The CBI on Thursday conducted searches in the offices of the wireless planning cell, the department responsible for allocating spectrum, and the office of deputy director general (access services) at the ministry headquarters in New Delhi.