CPM may also seek JPC probe in 2G scam

The Communist Party of India - Marxist may support the Bharatiya Janata Party's demand for a probe by the Joint Parliamentary Committee into the allegations of corruption against former telecom minister A Raja.

"We are of the view the government must agree to the Opposition's demand for holding a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the telecom scam. If that cannot be done, than the government must come up with an alternative mechanism to unearth the truth in this scam," said CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury.

He rubbished the claim made by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that there is no need for a JPC probe when the Public Accounts Committee will look into the issue. "The PAC cannot deal with fixing the responsibility for a loss to public exchequer. It cannot deal with the claims that whatever the former telecom minister did, he did so with the approval of the Prime Minister's Office. It cannot summon earlier records which the JPC can do. The House would lay down the procedure and terms of reference of the JPC," he said.

Surinder Singh Ahluwalia, deputy leader of the BJP in Rajya Sabha, said his party and allies of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance would continue to press for a probe by a JPC.

"It is for the government to decide whether or not it wants to clear the air and agree to our demand. After listening to all the parties who had been invited for a lunch meeting to discuss the issue, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told members of all political parties that he would convey their feelings to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh," Ahluwalia told rediff.com.

When asked if the Opposition would be happy with a single JPC probing all three scams that the ruling coalition is facing -- Adarsh Society, 2G scam and Commonwealth Games -- or they would seek three separate JPCs,  Ahluwalia said that decision was up to the government to take.

"If they want just one JPC, it is fine with us. If they can find three parliamentarians to head three different JPCs, that is fine with us too," he said.

Before the luncheon meeting, Mukherjee called on L K Advani and held discussions with the senior BJP leader. The meeting was attended by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley.