2G scam: Another meeting to break Parliament deadlock

New Delhi : Another meeting of leaders of all parties on Tuesday afternoon was called by Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar in an attempt break the logjam that has ground the Indian Parliament to a halt over the 2G scam.

The Opposition parties have stalled business in the House for the around three weeks to press for setting up of a joint-parliamentary committee (JPC) to investigate the alleged telecom scam, as the government refuses to oblige.

The 2G scam had led the Supreme Court to ask for a reply from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as to why he took 11 months to give nod to a criminal proceeding against the “tainted” Telecom Minsiter A Raja.

The episode began after a report by the government?s auditor found the former Telecom Minister ?personally responsible? for costing the national exchequer a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore through ?illogical? sale of 2G telecom spectrum in 2008.

While Miera Kumar on Monday said she was hopeful that the meeting will end the Parliament stalemate, it is to be noted that two previous all-party meetings called by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had failed to reach a consensus.

Meanwhile, a section of the opposition, led by the Left parties, is also expected to meet President Pratibha Patil to urge her to put her weight behind their JPC demand.