Non-NDA parties calling themselves the “secular opposition” called on President Pratibha Patil to impress upon her the need to prevail on the government to agree to a JPC on the 2G spectrum allocation scam.
MPs of 11 parties comprising the CPI(M), CPI, AIFB, RSP, AIADMK, MDMK, AGP, BJD, JD(S), TDP and the RJD took a procession from Parliament to Rashtriya Bhavan and submitted a memorandum to the President urging her to exercise her “constitutional right” and “advise” the government to accept the demand for a JPC probe.
After calling on the President, Mr Sitaram Yechury of the CPI(M) said, “It is the constitutional and moral duty of the President to advice the government.” Quoting instances from history, he said, “Shankar Dayal Sharma advised the government on the Babri Masjid issue. K.R. Narayanan advised the government during the Gujarat riots. Therefore, Ms Patil, following this tradition and in the best interest of the nation, can advice the government on the 2G scam.”
Listing out the reasons for a JPC, Mr Yechury said, “the scope of this scam goes beyond the report of the CAG. Secondly, the PAC cannot exceed the brief. But there is a need to study how the system could be manipulated and there is a need to set things right through the enactment of laws.”
JD(S) supremo Deve Gowda said, “Why is the government shying away from a JPC?”
***
NDA stir on corruption
Age Correspondent
New Delhi
Nov. 30: The NDA will hold a “massive” rally here soon against corruption issues, including the 2G scam. The alliance will also try to rope in the Left and other non-UPA parties. NDA convenor Sharad Yadav has been authorised to talk to other political parties.