India's Telecommunications Minister Quits After Probe Into License Auction

India's telecommunications minister Andimuthu Raja resigned after a year-long investigation into the multibillion-dollar auction of mobile-phone airwaves stalled parliament and triggered opposition calls for him to step down.

"In order to avoid embarrassment to the government and maintain peace and harmony in parliament, my leader has advised me to resign," Raja told reporters last night after submitting his resignation letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "My conscience is very clear." The Central Bureau of Investigation has been examining the role of Raja and the Ministry of Communications in the pricing of second-generation airwaves since October last year. The country's Supreme Court will resume hearing public interest petitions today on alleged irregularities in the sale. Raja said that he will prove that his actions were in accordance with the law.