The deadlock in Parliament is expected to continue next week with the Government once again rejecting the demand for a JPC into 2G spectrum scam alleging that the Opposition was using the stalemate as a "political weapon" to obstruct its functioning.
Parliament Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal also sought to take the sting out of BJP's strident demand for JPC reminding it of the statement of Murali Manohar Joshi that the Public Accounts Committee was "adequately equipped" to deal with the subject. Joshi, a senior BJP leader, heads the PAC.
"It is the right of the Opposition to throw out the government. It is not the right of the Opposition to obstruct the functioning of the government. Out of conviction we cannot accept the demand for JPC," he said.
The minister's insistence was that the Opposition does not want to unearth the truth behind the alleged scam but its intention was to have a "political weapon" in their hands "which we are not going to offer".
"They are using it as a political handle in a political battle, which we will fight politically," he said adding that this was clear from the Opposition's statements which show that their "sole intention" was to summon Prime Minister or Ministers before the JPC and not to probe the issue.
Bansal contended that the JPC could be no better than any Parliamentary committee. "JPC is a creation of Parliament and therefore it cannot be above Parliament."
The minister said that nevertheless the government has "not lost hope" and will try to persuade the Opposition to run the House till the last day of the session.
Bansal also sought to divide the opposition, noting that only seven of the total 37 parties in Parliament would be able to give their representation in such a probe.
"Parliament is represented by 37 political parties, but the JPC would be restricted only to seven political parties. Would it be a representative body?" he said.
Besides, he said that the JPC can have only three members from UPA, two from NDA and the rest two from Left and BSP.
