The government is in a fix over the Opposition’s demand that a joint parliamentary committee be constituted to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam. The demand has brought Parliament to a virtual standstill from day one of the Winter Session with the government neither rejecting nor accepting it even after two rounds of meetings with floor leaders.
While the Opposition remained united on a JPC probe, two UPA allies — the Trinamul Congress and the DMK — suggested they are not against it. The NCP, another ally, will go with the majority but the Congress, which heads the ruling UPA, has remained firm so far in its opposition.
Leader of the Lok Sabha and finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday called a meeting of floor leaders on this issue, his second such meeting with them after November 16. Mr Mukherjee is said to have briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Congress top brass on the exercise on Monday evening.