Oppn blowing 2G issue out of proportion: Karuna

Backing former union telecom minister A Raja to the hilt, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Monday said he could not be termed as a culprit in the 2G spectrum issue till a thorough probe was completed.

Writing in party mouthpiece Murasoli, he said one cannot come to a conclusion before the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Wing completed investigations into the matter.

"One cannot be made a culprit by repeatedly leveling allegations. The issue has to be properly investigated. Repeated lies cannot become a truth," he said, citing a Tamil saying.

He also charged the Opposition and a section of the media with "blowing the issue out of proportion".

"They are painting a picture as if one person looted Rs 1.76 lakh crore and divided it among others and are adamant they won't allow Parliamentary proceedings," he said, referring to the logjam in Parliament over the Opposition's demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe.

Karunanidhi recalled that Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal had said the CAG report, which pegged the spectrum loss at approximately Rs 1.76 lakh crore, was just an 'opinion' and his ministry would look into it before taking a decision.

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president also said that Sibal had assured that he will take action against telecom companies which might have suppressed information to get licenses, and added that such action will bring down the losses "said to have been caused to the government."

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Jayalalithaa had on Sunday questioned why Raja had neither been interrogated nor arrested in the spectrum issue.