A Raja has finally returned as communications & IT minister. Though his stint in the ministry in the previous regime was marked by controversies and mishandling, with Raja often on the defensive, he would definitely highlight his return as an endorsement of his policies. This is where the danger lies?telecom is too serious a subject to be left to Raja?s whims. One can understand the Prime Minister?s constraints while discharging the coalition dharma, but there are ways to rein in Raja.

In all policy matters, the PM should now ensure that there?s broad discussion and consensus. In some ways, a beginning in this direction was made in the last few weeks of the previous government when matters relating to the 3G spectrum auction were referred to the Cabinet and subsequently a group of ministers. It should be ensured that the process continues and issues are decided on a wider forum. Towards the end of the previous government?s tenure, the Cabinet Secretariat had asked the department of telecommunications to bring a couple of other decisions taken by Raja to the Cabinet for approval.

In fact, the time is ripe for the government to constitute an inter-ministerial committee with industry representation to clean up the mess, which crept in the sector with regard to spectrum and licensing issues. If need be, a new telecom policy should also be formulated. When the election process was on, a very defining spectrum pricing report has been submitted by a government-industry committee, which, if properly implemented, would clean up the entire 2G spectrum mess, bring about the much-needed consolidation in the sector and lay down a roadmap for the sector for the next several years. A decision on this report should not be left only to Raja and his team of bureaucrats. Any tinkering by any lobby with this report would once again bring about the unnecessary wrangling in the sector, which would take years to solve.

Negotiations for one of the biggest global transaction in telecom?the Bharti-MTN deal?began before the new communications minister assumed office. This is testimony to the fact that the country?s telecom industry is not only resilient but buoyant. No chance should be given to Raja to sully this achievement.

rishi.raj@expressindia.com