No controversy when I was in charge: Maran

CHENNAI: Breaking his silence over the 2G spectrum scam, Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran on Saturday said there was no controversy over spectrum allocation during his tenure.
On allegations whether he put pressure on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to keep the issue of spectrum pricing outside the mandate of the empowered group of ministers (EGoM), Maran said, “The Prime Minister is a bold and honest leader.And only a normal interaction took place between me, when I was the telecom minister, and the PM for (formulating) the terms (of reference). The media is jumping to conclusions, trying to fault the 2006 letter and (linking it to) today’s scenario. Today’s scenario is different, and the 2006 scenario is different.”
He criticised the media for targeting him for a letter he wrote in 2006, allegedly putting pressure on the Prime Minister over the spectrum allocation. “The media is making a mountain out of a molehill,” he said. Rubbishing statements that the DMK was “arm-twisting” the Congress on the issue, he said, “The DMK is a trusted and loyal ally of the Congress. Of course, the DMK has no need to arm-twist the Congress. In this issue, the DMK will stand with the Congress.”
Meanwhile, the minister formally launched the extension of the scheme for integrated textile park (SITP) and also inaugurated online registration of cotton yarn exports. The objective of the scheme, launched in 2005, is to provide world-class infrastructure facilities for setting up textile units all over the country.
“Already 40 parks have been sanctioned. The scheme targets industrial clusters with high growth potential, which require strategic interventions by way of providing world-class infrastructure support. The project cost will cover common infrastructure, depending on the need of the ITP. There will be flexibility in setting up ITPs,” Maran said.
Union minister of state for textiles Panabaka Lakshmi and secretary, ministry of textiles, Rita Menon were there.