Opposition cries JPC on 2G scam, PC rejects

The Indian opposition kept up ts relentless campaign against A Raja and the 2G Spectrum scam demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the graft ahead of a possible Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement in Parliament on the issue on Monday.

“We want JPC,” cried the Opposition MPs of Shiv Sena, BJP and AIADMK in Lok Sabha.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned in the morning.

DMK leader A Raja stepped down on Sunday night after being advised by party boss and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Karunanidhi, whose effort to save the Union Minister finally failed.

However, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram ruled out a JPC since the CAG report goes to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
“Let the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) go into the matter. When the CAG report [on the 2G scam] will be thoroughly discussed in the PAC, which has the opposition leader on it. So a demand for a JPC is meaningless,” said P Chidambaram.

Faced with mounting pressure from the Opposition Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is likely to make a statement in Parliament on Monday on the spectrum issue, a day after Telecom Minister A Raja quit office.

The Supreme Court, which is monitoring the controversial case, is also scheduled to hear the matter on Monday.

The apex court in a previous hearing questioned why the government was not removing the minister.

The petitions demanded the court to monitor the Central Bureau of Investigation’s probe into the 2G spectrum scam or setting up Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The SC was critical of the CBI for its slow progress in the case.

The Central agency had told the SC that it needed six more months to investigate the case.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, the biggest opposition in Parliament, which had been campaigning for removal of the “tainted” minister, said the resignation was a victory for democracy.

The Government’s auditor, the Comptroller of Auditor General, had blamed the minister for costing the exchequer nearly Rs. 1.76 lakh crore by undervaluing 2G spectrum in 2008.