But only on 2G; all-party meet clears decks for probe, debates.
After resisting Opposition pressure for more than three months, the Congress-led ruling UPA coalition today formally agreed to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G telecom spectrum scam.
However, it will not entertain the opposition’s demand to widen the probe’s ambit to the Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Housing controversies.
At an all-party meeting convened today by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, government managers virtually agreed to such an arrangement.The JPC is likely to have around 30 members. It appears either Congress MP from Kerala P C Chacko or V Kishore Chandra Deo from Andhra may become chairman. Of the 30 members, 20 are expected to be from the Lok Sabha and the rest from the Rajya Sabha.
Interestingly, the BJP didn’t emphasize its earlier demand of JPCs on Adarsh and CWG at the meeting today. Its deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde, who spoke for it, said they wanted extensive discussion on issues such as black money hidden abroad, Adarsh, Commonwealth Games and the overall issue of corruption during the session.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who came just before the lunch break, didn’t say a word in the meeting but many in the party believe he was instrumental in forcing some veterans to agree to a JPC. Singh, who emphatically said last week that he was not the stumbling block in the process of JPC formation and was ready to face any probe, later expressed hope that the coming Budget session would be “peaceful” and “productive”. “”This is the most important session of Parliament. The government, on its part, is ready to discuss any issue which may be brought by the Opposition,” he told reporters before leaving the Parliament premises.
The PM is likely to make a statement on the JPC when the Lok Sabha assembles on Tuesday.
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In today’s meeting, the Speaker set the tone by saying the outcome should be a “positive result” on the functioning of the Budget session. Veteran NDA leader Lal Krishna Advani was asked to speak before the others but he gave the floor to Munde, who demanded a JPC big enough to accommodate at least 40 members and the chairman. Munde also didn’t let lose an opportunity to prick the Congress, asking, “Why didn’t the government take the same decision earlier? Why did the government waste so much time?”
The CPI(M) and the BSP also expressed opinion in favour of a JPC. CPI(M)’s Basudeb Acharia and CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta said they also wanted to raise issues on the functioning of the federal system during the session, as they found the central government crossing its jurisdiction in many instances. Dasgupta also asked for an effective mechanism to fight corruption.
J Jayalalitha’s AIADMK wanted the second half of the Budget session (April 4 to 21) to be postponed, as it clashed with the probable assembly election schedule in Tamil Nadu. But Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee rejected the demand, citing legal rulings on the passing of the Budget within 75 days of its tabling in Parliament.
Tempers soared between the Trinamool Congress and the CPI(M) at the meeting, over recent killings in West Bengal, allegedly by armed workers of the latter. Trinamool chief whip Sudip Bandopadhyay said there should be a discussion on state-sponsored terrorism of the Bengal government and killings in a particular village, Netai. He was vehemently opposed by the CPI(M)’s Acharia.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee wrapped up the discussion and left the nitty-gritty of the JPC for the Speaker to decide. He also asked the leaders present in the meeting not to leak anything to the press on the JPC agreement.