CPI distances from Gurudas remark on JPC

The CPI on Sunday backtracked on a statement made by its Leader in the Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta that the party is withdrawing its demand for a JPC probe into the 2G Spectrum scam.

The CPI central secretariat issued a statement contradicting Dasgupta. The party, however, claimed that Dasgupta was “thoroughly misquoted”.

“What he said was that while not withdrawing the demand of JPC, while fighting for JPC to find out the multidimensional loot, We think Parliament should allow to discuss not only JPC but also other important people's issues,” the statement said.

On Saturday, Dasgupta had told reporters, “We are withdrawing our demand for JPC... but to hold up Parliament for only one demand is wrong... “Parliament must meet, must discuss, Parliament hold up should not continue.”

CPI(M) Parliamentary party leader Basudev Acharia said the party could not withdraw the demand for a JPC but will see that Parliament was not disrupted. "Our general secretary Prakash Karat has made our position very much clear that we will continue to ask for JPC...but we will see that the House is not disrupted,” Acharia said.