Pranab Mukherjee wants Opp to apologise for ?destroying? Parliament

After the Opposition rejected fresh attempts by the government to end the Parliament deadlock over JPC probe demand into the 2G scam, Union Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday asked the Opposition to apologise for ?destroying? the Parliament.

Pranab Mukherjee had said on Wednesday that the government was ready to call a special session of the Parliament before the Budget Session to discuss the 2G Spectrum allocation scam issue, but the Opposition was quick to dismiss it.

The Opposition has warned of continuing their protests in the Parliament in the next session if the government does not announce a JPC probe into the scam.

Reacting to the rejection of he government?s offer, Mukherjee said, ?In the entire Winter Session, they (Opposition) did not allow any opportunity for any discussion on any issue….They have created deadlock in Parliament. They have destroyed the institution. They should apologise to the nation.?

Sushma Swaraj, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, rejecting Mukherjee?s offer, had said, ?We don’t want a debate on JPC. We want JPC.?

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D Raja was also quick to reject the government?s offer.

?I think JPC is very reasonable demand. Opposition is not demanding anything which should not be demanded. The parliamentary rules and procedures allow such a mechanism. If the Prime Minister is willing to appear before PAC, then what is the problem in JPC?? he said.

He added that no formal request from the government for a special session has been received yet.

The Opposition had stalled proceedings in the recently concluded Winter Session, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2S scam.