The government on Tuesday appeared to have agreed in principle to constitute a joint parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged 2G spectrum allocation scam. Sources said a meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh agreed to form such a panel.
“The Union Cabinet discussed the issue threadbare. Most of the ministers expressed concern over the public perception going against the government over this issue. They also argued that when most aspects relating to the alleged scams had already come into the public domain owing to ongoing multi-pronged inquiries, there should not be any problem in conceding a JPC,” the sources said. A formal announcement is expected to be made on the floor of the Lok Sabha after the Budget Session begins next week.
Finance minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee has been entrusted with the task of finalising the modalities and terms of reference of such a parliamentary committee, the sources added.
The BJP, meanwhile, demanded that the ambit of the JPC be extended to cover all the ongoing corruption scams plaguing the country, but the Congress swiftly rejected this.
Seeking a widening of the JPC’s scope, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani, addressing a public rally in Kolkata on Tuesday, said: “All cases of corruption, including 2G spectrum, CWG and the defence land scam (Adarsh Housing Society) should be probed by the JPC.” He also said that while a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam would expose the DMK, if the scope of the JPC was widened to cover all corruption cases, the Congress’ “involvement” in the CWG and Adarsh scams would be exposed.
Speaking to reporters, AICC spokesman Manish Tewari parried questions on Mr Advani’s demand, but the unease in ruling party circles was palpable, with a senior leader describing the Opposition’s latest move as “shifting the goalpost”.
Mr Tewari’s refrain was that Parliament should run smoothly, and all issues should be discussed in the “highest forum of democracy”. He added: “The Opposition should not run away from a debate. The demand for a JPC should not be used as a cover to escape debate. It should not be a subterfuge to run away from interactions. Running away is not a solution.”
The names of senior leaders V. Kishorechandra Deo and P.C. Chako are, meanwhile, doing the rounds in Congress circles as possible candidates to head the JPC.