2G scam: JPC set to give clean chit to PM, FM

A parliamentary probe may give a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram on the 2G scam in a limited respite to the UPA government that is otherwise facing unending corruption slur. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

A parliamentary probe may give a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram on the 2G scam in a limited respite to the UPA government that is otherwise facing unending corruption slur.

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The joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on 2G formed in February 2011 would meet on September 23 to adopt its draft report. The draft report has been lying before the panel since April 2013 as Opposition members refused to accept it.

The report had blamed former telecom minister A Raja for the 2G spectrum irregularities but found no fault with the PM and the finance minister. The CAG’s audit pegged a presumptive loss of `1.76 lakh crore on 2G spectrum allocation.

Earlier, the Opposition was in a position to overrule the official draft but political equations changed due to Congress’ support to DMK for a Rajya Sabha seat and JD(U) leaving NDA.

Last month, two vacancies in the JPC were filled by Congress MP Pradip Bhattacharyya and nominated member Ashok Ganguly. Now, the Congress-led UPA has 15 (including 2 BSP, 1 SP MP) members in the panel which is enough to adopt the report. DMK or JD(U)’s support will make it easy for the UPA.

“We will give our dissent note” said CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta, admitting that it would be difficult to reject the report. The JPC was formed due to Opposition’s relentless pressure but their cause — to nail the PM on the 2G scandal has not been successful.