The government managers are finding it difficult to end the impasse in Parliament on the Opposition’s demand of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam. This has rived speculation that the government is in no hurry to complete its legislative business slated for the current session of Parliament which began from November 9.
While a section of the Opposition fear that the government may adjourn two houses of Parliament sine die, UPA insiders feel that the current stalemate could end in the “coming days”. Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday night held parleys with senior party leaders Pranab Mukherjee, A.K. Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad in the wake of the continuing stalemate in Parliament and the political situation in BJP-ruled Karnataka. Mr Ahmed Patel was also present. While the UPA constituents are seen backing the Opposition’s demand of a JPC probe, the Congress alone has “so far” been opposing to it.
“Till this hour, the opinion of the Congress is that the JPC is not required into the matter,” Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed told reporters at the AICC briefing adding “it was an inappropriate demand of the Opposition”.
Mr Ahmed, however, refused to give a direct reply to a specific query on whether Congress’ stand against the JPC is the final decision of the party.
Mr Mukherjee so far had two rounds of meeting with the floor leaders in Parliament on this issue but this has not broken the deadlock.
“All I can say is that the deadlock continues,” CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said after meeting Mr Mukherjee to know the government stand as the latter had promised on Monday to get back to the Opposition on the JPC demand after consulting the Prime Minister.
Mr Yechury said Mr Mukherjee told him that the government was firm on its stand of “no JPC”. He said the Opposition has also stuck to its demand for a JPC probe.
Noting that the “stalemate is continuing”, Mr Mukherjee termed it as an “unfortunate” situation.
In a related development, non-Congress, and non-BJP parties on Tuesday put the onus on the UPA to end the impasse in Parliament by constituting a JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam.
Top leaders of 10 parties — CPI(M), CPI, TDP, JD(S), AIADMK, MDMK, AGP, Forward Bloc, BJD and RLD — met here on Tuesday evening to formulate a “common strategy to tackle” the UPA on the issue as the government decided against constituting a JPC.
“It is indeed unfortunate that Parliament could not transact any business so far in the current winter session. The UPA and its leader Congress are responsible for this by their refusal to appoint a JPC to probe the massive 2G spectrum scam,” Mr Yechury said.