Sibal must quit, says CPI-M

The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday demanded the resignation of Communications Minister Kapil Sibal after the Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of 2G telecom licences.

"The judgment is a strong indictment of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government and in particular the present telecom minister (Sibal) who has consistently refused to cancel the licences and held that there has been no revenue loss," the CPI-M  said. "Kapil Sibal should resign forthwith."

The Supreme Court Thursday cancelled all 122 licences granted to telecom firms during the tenure of then ciommunications minister  A. Raja and left it to the trial court to judge if there should be proceedings against Home Minister P. Chidambaram,who aws then the finance minister.

"In the light of the judgment, the prime minister is duty bound to break his silence and answer to the country. The CPI-M demands that the government immediately implement the judgment," the CPI-M  added.

CPI-M politburo member Brinda Karat said the verdict was "extremely appropriate".
"The Supreme Court judgment today is something we consider extremely appropriate... We demand that the government should act upon it immediately," Karat told NDTV.

"It is a landmark judgment," she said, adding that she had been demanding in parliament and outside of it that not only should those involved in the loss to the exchequer be prosecuted but licences given illegally be cancelled and the entire amount recovered.

The apex court verdict came on a plea of Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy for an investigation into the alleged role of Chidambaram as the finance minister when the 122 2G licences were issued.