Manmohan Singh holds meet to discuss 2G verdict fallout

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today met union ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal and Salman Khurshid to discuss the fallout of the apex court verdict canceling 122 2G licences granted by former communications minister A. Raja in 2007 and 2008. The meeting, held at the prime minister’s offi cial residence at 7, Race Course Road, was still underway, sources said. The meeting was expected to discuss new guidelines for the allocation of 2G licences in the wake of the Supreme Court observing that fi rst-come-fi rst-serve policy was fl awed and instead favouring auctioning. The meeting assumes signifi cance with Norway and Russia pushing for government’s intervention to safeguard investments by their state-owned companies Telenor and Sistema, respectively. Norway has already activated diplomatic channels with India on the issue. Russian Communications Minister Igor Shchyogolev is expected to visit India shortly to take up the issue with Sibal over safeguarding Sistema’s investment in the Indian telecom sector. Sistema has invested in a joint venture fi rm, Sistema Shyam Teleservices (SSTL).