BJP rejects 2G probe by retired judge

The main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday rejected the proposal by the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by the Congress to conduct a probe into the 2G spectrum scam by a retired judge, calling it inadequate and an affront to Parliament.

Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said a one-man committee- of retired Supreme Court judge Shivraj Vir Patil- will be formed to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

Holding that the government is scared of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe and is only trying to cover up things, BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: “We wholly reject this suggestion [of a retired judge probe].”

“It is not even a commission of inquiry. This is only an executive appointed committee. On all these grounds we reject this suggestion of a committee of a retired judge looking into the issue.”

Jaitley, who is Opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha, said BJP has no difficulty as to from when the JPC will start its probe, amid new charges by Tata group chief Ratan Tata that the irregularities began under the period of BJP rule in 2001.

“It can even be from 1993- 94 when the telecom sector opened up. But not by a body which is inadequate to look into this,” Jaitley said, reiterating the demand for a JPC.

He said the retired judge cannot probe the fraudulent implementation of telecom policies and allegations of corruption.

He said the probe by a retired judge when the Parliament is in session is unprecedented and serious breach of parliamentary privilege.

He said making the announcement outside the House when it is in session is like expecting the Parliament to abdicate its function.