Congress taps BSP, SP to thwart oppn move
As opposition leaders gear up to revive the 2G spectrum scam in the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Congress members have decided to launched a multi-pronged strategy to thwart their move.
As opposition leaders gear up to revive the 2G spectrum scam in the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Congress members have decided to launched a multi-pronged strategy to thwart their move.
The Congress has reached out to the two BSP and one SP members of the committee.
"They have assured they will oppose any move to rake up the 2G issue," Congress secretary and PAC member Sanjay Nirupam told HT.
Baliram, BSP member in the PAC, told HT, "The Joint Parliamentary Committee is working on the issue. I don't understand how a PAC report will help Parliament?"
Both the UPA and the opposition (BJP, BJD, CPM, Akali Dal and ADMK) have 9 members each in the PAC.
But the BSP and SP could play a key role in deciding the fate of the report.
To divert the PAC's attention, the Congress members want to review a CAG report on an unfinished power project in Nagaland that was envisaged during the NDA rule but never took off because of faulty planning.
But BJD member Bhartruhari Mahtab insists the scrutiny of the 2G is an unfinished agenda: "If UPA is serious about fighting corruption, it should allow the PAC to function."
PAC chairman Murali Manohar Joshi recently circulated a reworked draft after the earlier version was rejected by majority in April. In his forwarding letter Joshi cited that constitutional experts have opined in his favour.
"The opinion should have been brought before the committee. Also, he must have discussed with some expert who suits him," said Nirupam.