The meeting between Opposition parties and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to end the logjam in Parliament over the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G telecom spectrum scam ended with a sliver of hope — that the government might “stoop to conquer” and agree to a discussion on a JPC.
Mukherjee was quoted by Opposition leaders as saying no price was too high to pay for allowing Parliament to function undisturbed.
In its formal and informal talks with the Opposition, the government made three points — it repeated its earlier offer of a discussion in both Houses on setting up a JPC; a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probe was already on; and the Supreme Court was monitoring the investigation.
With a top parliamentary body — headed by a member of the Opposition — and the apex court scrutinising the investigation into the allocation of spectrum at every turn, there was little that a JPC could bring to the table beyond delaying investigation.
The government also said no investigative powers were vested in a parliamentary committee, even a joint parliamentary committee. At best, it was a fact-finding body. Things had already moved fast and arrests had been made. The matter had moved beyond the purview of the JPC and was now in the domain of courts and the CBI.
However, it was ready to discuss the issue on the floor of the two Houses, as the appropriate forum for a discussion. “How can we discuss on the streets of India whether a committee of Parliament should be set up or not? A parliamentary committee has to be discussed in Parliament,” said a Congress spokesperson.
But the political clincher was, the current phase of political instability was weakening India. Did the Left parties really want to aid and abet the design of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)? “The non-BJP Opposition has to decide if it wants to follow the BJP,” said a spokesman in the party.
The Congress is clear. “We will not hand over to Opposition the option of making India a hostage to this spurious JPC debate. There is no debate. We have to let the investigation continue and let India move ahead. If they (the Opposition) continue to obstruct Parliament, we are equally determined to conduct Parliament,” a spokesman said. He said a discussion on setting up a JPC was part of this process.
The BJP and Left parties are united on the demand for JPC. The Left’s contention is that the arrest of former communications minister A Raja and findings of the Shivraj Patil committee have reinforced the demand for a JPC probe into the spectrum allocation scam. But the Left parties would also like to see the Budget Session function, unlike the Winter Session which was washed out.
“We want the House to function. Whether the House will function or not, that is the responsibility of the government. If it remains obdurate that there is no JPC, the responsibility of functioning of Parliament is on the government,” CPI-M Parliamentary Party leader Sitaram Yechury said.
Internally, the BJP will take a call on whether to take part in the House or not. The first test will be the President’s customary address to a joint sitting of both Houses in Parliament’s Central Hall, this being the first session in the calendar year. The BJP has not yet decided on whether it will obstruct the President’s Address. There is a view internally that if the momentum to ‘shame’ the government into conceding a JPC is to be kept up, the President’s Address must be boycotted. However, this is a major breach of parliamentary etiquette. On the other hand, if the BJP attends the joint sitting, it may have compromised its combative posture from the word ‘go’.
Defence minister and government troubleshooter A K Antony said: “There are still many days to go for the Budget Session. Let us wait and see what happens”.
BJP: JPC must, onus on Cong
Barely a fortnight before the Budget session begins, a united Opposition reiterated its demand for a JPC probe into the 2G scam.
During today’s meeting, senior BJP leader L K Advani suggested the Union government work towards a JPC probe because it would answer questions on governance and improve the credibility of the government that had taken a beating following the alleged corruption cases. Advani also said the Centre should not take it as a victory or defeat.
“The entire Opposition is demanding a JPC probe and we will not take back our demand. Every political party wants the Parliament to function normally and it is the responsibility of the government to ensure it,” said Arun Jaitley, the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha.
BJP leaders told Mukherjee the Centre must take an initiative on JPC and then they could have a debate on the issue.
