Dec. 20: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Monday offered to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on the 2G spectrum allocation issue, making it clear that he has nothing to hide. His offer could puncture the Opposition’s campaign for a joint parliamentary committee to probe the entire issue.
He said that “like Caesar’s wife, the Prime Minister should be above suspicion” and that is for the reason that he is prepared to appear before the PAC. The PAC headed by the BJP senior leader, Dr Murali Manohar Joshi, is currently examining the CAG report on the 2G scam.
Dr Singh’s remarks come at a time when the Opposition parties have planned to address meetings across India on the alleged corruption in allocation of 2G spectrum, the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, the Adarsh Housing Society scam in Mumbai and the Radia tapes — which reveal a nexus between politicians, lobbyists, business tycoons and the media — from December 22. Opposition unity had even led to a logjam affecting the entire 23-day Winter Session of Parliament.