The importance of Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh to the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition can be judged from an internal demi official (DO) letter the Prime Minister's Office sent out last week, marking it as 'AT ONCE', a classification never used previously by the PMO.

It is a new coinage altogether. Official circles have never heard of such a classification as important documents have been traditionally marked as 'Top Secret' or 'Immediate'.

The PMO's letter on July 8 refers to a letter from Amar Singh to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] and seeks answers from the secretaries in the telecom and economic affairs departments.

Here is the full text of the letter:

AT ONCE

PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE
South Block New Delhi 110001

Subject: Spectrum Use charge

Please find enclosed a copy of a letter dated 2.7.08 addressed to the Prime Minister by Shri Amar Singh MP on the above subject.

2. It is requested that comments in the matter may kindly be sent to this office at an early date.

Amit Aggarwal
Director
23012613

To
Secretary Department of Telecommunication
Secretary Department of Economic Affairs
---------------------------
PMO ID no 180/31/C/26/06 ESI dated 8-7-08