Only JPC can probe all angles: Advani-2/12/10

Only JPC can probe all angles: Advani



Senior BJP leader L K Advani on Thursday accused the government of being “indifferent” to corruption and “adamant” when allegations are likely to reach “high levels of political office”, even as the opposition forced adjournment in both Houses of Parliament for the 15th day over its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation.

Advani, for the first time, also spoke about the Niira Radia tapes, saying the 2G spectrum episode has become multi-dimensional and argued that only a JPC could probe all such dimensions.

Squarely blaming the government for the impasse in Parliament, he said the PAC has its limitations and it cannot for instance look into the Radia tapes controversy. “Business houses, lobbyists trying to determine who should be the minister, who should have a particular portfolio.... It undermines democracy itself.... It is a multi dimensional scam.... Nothing short of a JPC can do justice to this task,” he told reporters outside the House.


Advani said questions like why was it necessary that Telecom portfolio was to be allotted to the DMK and whether corporate interests were at play even within the DMK that it was to be allotted to only to a particular individual can only be probed by a JPC. He argued that PAC and JPC probes can go hand in hand.

“The government is indifferent to the problem of corruption and if an allegation is likely to reach high levels of political office, then they become absolutely adamant. This attitude is something that the NDA feels has to be fought against,” he said.

In a direct attack on the PM, Advani also said the appointment of P J Thomas has “completely demolished the credibility” of the CVC as an institution.

The opposition’s sustained attack on the government — both inside and outside Parliament — indicated its intention to keep the issue alive even after the Winter Session. The NDA is also planning to hold rallies in big cities and is in touch with non-NDA opposition parties. The BJP hopes to rope in parties like TDP, BJD, AIADMK and INLD.

Earlier in the Lok Sabha, the opposition shouted slogans demanding a JPC. UPA members, however, remained seated quietly. They wished to clear the Railways’ Appropriation Bills. Speaker Meira Kumar first adjourned the House till noon and then for the day, after the Railways Appropriation Bills had been carried through in the din.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha, which returned the Supplementary Demands (General) for Rs 45,000 crore and the relevant appropriation bills for 2010-11.