CPI(M) leader Nilotpal Basu demanded the resignation of TRAI chief Pradip Baijal over the Rs 2,000-crore Access Deficit Charge scam, involving non-payment of the said charges by private telecom companies, including Reliance, to BSNL and MTNL. He said the Government must sack Baijal immediately and ask TRAI to ivestigate. ‘‘How can Baijal say he is not a policeman.He does not have powers to investigate? The TRAI Act empowers the authority to ensure compliance of terms and conditions of licence,’’ Basu said.A prayer for playersThe BJP and Shiv Sena members in Lok Sabha today expressed serious concern over the ‘‘militant threat’’, issued by Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad-e-Islami, to the Indian cricket team against visiting Bangladesh and demanded fool-proof arrangements for the security of the Indian team. BJP member Sushil Kumar Modi, during Zero Hour, demanded a statement from the Government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad assured the House the Government was looking into the matter.‘Purging DD futile’I&B Minister Jaipal Reddy turned down the demand by some RS members for a probe into the appointment of mediapersons to senior posts in Doordarshan. When a CPI(M) member asked for an investigation in the large-scale appointments made by the NDA, Reddy said since most of them had already resigned, it would be futile to go into the issue. ‘‘Of the 38 appointments.13 of them have resigned. The three most senior persons have also resigned. There will not be much gained by digging into the past.’’Brickbats over rosesIf Minister of State for Commerce E.V.K.S. Elangovan expected bouquets during the discussion on cultivation of roses from Pushkar, he was wrong, H ended up with brickbats. Elangovan was asked what measures he would take to improve roses in Pushkar, so as to make them export-quality. When he said nothing could be done, both Sushma Swaraj and Najma Heptullah of the BJP demanded why not and Heptullah even asked if the minister was aware of the Pushkar Project started two years ago. After which Shekhawat asked the minister to come prepared next time.
