The BJP will hold a massive public rally in Mumbai on January 16 to demand the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the 2G Spectrum scam. The party’s observer for Maharashtra Mr Venkaiah Naidu made this announcement on Saturday, while he criticised the Congress for trying to sweep the issue under the carpet.
Mr Naidu was in Mumbai for the first time after being appointed as the state observer. “I will meet the party’s Mumbai functionaries and Maharashtra functionaries on Saturday and Sunday. The Central leadership has decided to take the issue of the scam to the people’s court. We will discuss how we can make the campaign successful in Maharashtra as well,” he said.
“The Congress thinks that once the Parliament session is over, the JPC demand would be forgotten. We have held discussion on the scam twice on the floor of the House. But nothing has come out of it. This time we don’t want discussions. We need action. Since our demand for a JPC was not accepted in the Parliament, we will take our fight to the people’s court. We will not allow the government to ignore such a big scam,” Mr Naidu added.
The BJP leader denied the allegations that the Opposition was responsible for not allowing the Parliament to function. The UPA government has claimed that the JCP enquiry was not needed when the Public Accounts Committee and Central Bureau of Investigation were already probing the matter. However, the BJP leader said that the Opposition’s demand was within the law.
“There are courts and provisions in the law for the PAC. At the same time, there is also a provision for a JPC. Those who drafted these laws realised that the JPC could be needed in special cases, and the `1.76 lakh crore 2G Spectrum scam is a special case,” Mr Naidu said.
Prime Minster Dr Manmohan Singh had alleged that the Opposition is weakening the democracy by not allowing the Parliament to function. However, Mr Naidu said that it was the government’s responsibility to ensure the smooth functioning of the Parliament. “The government’s arrogance led to the deadlock in the Parliament,” Mr Naidu said.