2G JPC: two-and-a-half years and still counting

Thirty months have proved to be insufficient for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to conclude its probe on the 2G scam. After it was formed in 2011 February, the JPC is headed for yet another extension.

Thirty months have proved to be insufficient for the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to conclude its probe on the 2G scam. After it was formed in 2011 February, the JPC is headed for yet another extension. This time, the extension will be till the last day of the winter session of Parliament that usually ends in December.

Panel chairman PC Chacko is expected to move a motion in Lok Sabha on Wednesday seeking an extension. The move comes after the Opposition parties objected to the selection of Congress member Pradip Bhattacharyya and nominated member Ashok Ganguly in the JPC last week.

“The inclusion of two members has not been finally decided by the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,” Chacko told HT.

EMS Nachiappan (Congress) and Thiruchi Siva (DMK)’s seats fell vacant as the former became a minister and the latter’s term came to an end in July. On Thursday, the UPA managed to get Pradip Bhattacharyya (Congress) and Ashok Ganguly (nominated) elected for the slots.

The JPC has held more than 30 meetings but even after it got an extension during the last budget session, no further meetings were called. A worried UPA camp waited for the two vacancies to be filled up as the UPA had lost majority in the 30-member JPC, following Trinamool and the DMK pulling out.

If the chairman upholds the election of Bhattacharyya and Ganguly, the Congress-led UPA will have 15 members—including two BSP and one SP MP. If DMK or JD(U) (2 members) lend their support, the UPA will be able to smoothly adopt the draft.