Countering odds in getting berths in the proposed JPC on the 2G spectrum issue, the CPI(M) and AIADMK have decided to join hands with other “like-minded’’ parties to enable their representation in the parliamentary body expected to be set up to probe the alleged scam.
Nine non-Congress, non-BJP parties, including the Left and AIADMK, are planning to write to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari on Tuesday saying that they should be treated as a “bloc’’ during the constitution of the JPC to probe the 2G spectrum scam. In this way, the CPI(M) and the AIADMK hope to nominate one member each as part of the JPC.
Though the AIADMK and CPI(M) have been raising cudgels against the UPA ally DMK on the 2G issue in Parliament, the sheer absence of adequate numbers to represent themselves in the JPC raised the alarm bells. Now, the nine “like-minded’’ parties have conceded that it is necessary for the AIADMK to be represented in the proposed JPC, sources said. Even if the “bloc’’ gets to nominate three members, the CPI(M), AIADMK and BJD are expected to pitch for the JPC berths. The nine parties — CPI(M), CPI, AIADMK, TDP, BJD, JD(S), RLD, Forward Bloc and RSP — have a total of 61 MPs. It may be recalled that the Left along with the non-BJP Opposition parties had also met President Pratibha Patil in 2010 and urged her to “exercise her influence” over the government to make it accept the demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam.
While seeking a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam, the Left parties also want a discussion in Parliament on several other issues including the Games, price rise and right-wing terror.