Hinting that the Left parties may agree for a discussion on a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the alleged 2G spectrum scam in Parliament, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, while speaking to a TV channel said it could be done, provided the government gives a commitment for setting up such a panel.
The CPI(M) politburo member and Rajya Sabha MP also said the Left want the JPC to investigate all deals from 1998, when the NDA government came up with a telecom policy, a stand which could lead to the collapse of the Opposition’s unity — witnessed during the Winter Session of Parliament — on the issue.
Meanwhile, putting the onus on the UPA to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament during the Budget Session, Mr Yechury said the arrest of former telecom minister A. Raja and findings of the Justice Shivraj V. Patil Committee has “reinforced” the demand for a JPC.
“Even without a discussion, you can give JPC. But if they insist they want a discussion (prior to the setting up of a JPC), then give us a commitment that there will be a JPC, we are prepared for that (discussion in Parliament),” Mr Yechury said in an interview to a television channel.
Asked whether he was speaking on behalf of all the four Left parties, he said he believed so though there was no formal discussion among the four parties.
“This is the indication I got from our earlier meetings,” he said. He was responding to reports that the government was contemplating a discussion in Parliament on a resolution for constituting a JPC. Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan has earlier said they were open to discussing such a resolution in Parliament on the JPC issue. The remarks came ahead of Tuesday’s meeting with Opposition parties convened by the government to ensure that there is no washout of the Budget Session.