Against the backdrop of unease in BJP over pursuance of 2G probe by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, its Chairman M M Joshi today associated himself with his party's demand for JPC into the issue of corruption during UPA-II, saying he was "fully committed" to it.
In a statement issued a day after his reported meeting with BJP President Nitin Gadkari, Joshi sought to clear doubts in his party by saying that the PAC would be looking into only the aspect of accountability in public spending with regard to 2G spectrum allocation.
"As a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, I stand fully committed to the demand for the formation of Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to look into the broader questions related to corruption facing the country today," Joshi said.
Contending that the "issues of corruption during UPA-II" are of great concern for the people of India, he said the PAC which he heads would look into the matters of public spending based on the CAG reports.
"The PAC has a constitutional jurisdiction and its function is well laid out. It shall function within its purview and within the rules and procedure of the Parliament. It shall make sure that every paisa of public money is well accounted for," Joshi said.
He noted that the PAC does not deal just with the Telecom Ministry but analyses every report of the CAG dealing with the various ministries.
"As the Chairman of the PAC, I believe in the Committee's vast powers in bringing greater accountability to public spending. I commit myself to playing this role effectively," the BJP leader said.
Joshi's statement assumes significance as BJP has been uneasy with him pushing forward the PAC inquiry into 2G spectrum allocation, as it was seen as scuttling the Opposition's relentless demand for JPC probe.