It is puzzling as to why the BJP is making such a fuss over Public Accounts Committee chairman Murli Manohar Joshi’s willingness to look into the Prime Minister’s offer to appear before it in the 2G spectrum scam. Dr Joshi’s stand in no way scuttles the Opposition’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee to look into the whole issue of accountability and governance in the 2G scam. One can understand the chagrin of the Congress Party about giving in on the JPC demand as it fears the Opposition will drag on this issue of colossal malfeasance indefinitely so that the Congress’ image takes a beating over a longer period. The Congress, understandably, is worried about the BJP and the Left’s political agenda. Going by the record of the JPC in the 2001 stock market scam, the committee took over one-and-a-half years to present its report, and, despite its very significant recommendations in December 2002, the government and the regulatory bodies are still to implement some of those that remain very relevant. Even the main players in the stock market scam have not been adequately punished till today. So, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj’s contention that a JPC goes further than the PAC in that it deals with accountability and governance could be a case of expecting too much. Besides, her crusade for a JPC in the furtherance of accountability appears to be lip service considering the BJP’s role in the Karnataka mining scam.
There is another view that sees Dr Joshi’s contradiction of his party’s stand that a PAC has a limited mandate as an attempt, by a leader sidelined in his party since the takeover by Mr L.K. Advani and his faction, to reassert himself. The BJP feels somewhat embarrassed by Dr Joshi’s flexing.
Of course, the 2G scam is not only an accounting or spectrum distribution fraud, but also encompasses an assault on the political and democratic system, the nexus between ministers, politicians, bureaucrats, lobbyists and mediapersons, and corporate intrigue. There is also the havala angle as much of the money made in the scam has flown out of the country. In this context, the JPC would be the more appropriate vehicle to look into the full ramifications of the 2G spectrum scam.
What remains to be seen is whether the PAC has the power to take action against the Prime Minister, who has volunteered to appear before the PAC. It is no one’s contention that the PM profited from it. But if he is found negligent, can he be penalised by the PAC? The point is that the PM is not the issue. The Opposition would be doing a disservice to the country, and to the furtherance of accountability and governance, if it seeks to make the PM pivotal in the inquiry.
A solution has to be found so that the Opposition does not scuttle the Budget Session of Parliament as it did the Winter Session. Some understanding could be arrived at, one being that the Opposition should await the outcome of the investigation since the Supreme Court is monitoring the investigation.
Alternatively, a JPC can be formed with the limited objective of governance. The guilty will be pinpointed by the courts and the issue of governance won’t be overlooked.