Govt may agree for JPC probe in 2G scam: Congress leader

Concern in the Congress comes in the wake of the just-concluded BJP National Executive at Guwahati which gave an unmistakable signal that the confrontation appears set to worsen ahead of Budget Session.

The Government could agree for a JPC into the 2G spectrum allocation issue in order to "save" the Budget session of Parliament.

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An indication to this effect was given by a senior Congress leader who declined to be identified.

"Still there is lot of time for the Budget session, but if it becomes clear that it could also be washed out like the winter session, setting up of a JPC could be agreed to," he said.

The statement was significant against the backdrop of the growing concern in the party over the escalating confrontation between Government and Opposition on the issue.

With no signs of resolution to the deadlock that washed out the entire winter session last month, ruling party leaders are hoping that a way is found quick and fast on the issue of Joint Parliamentary Committee into 2G scam.

"The message that the world''s largest democracy is having a non-functioning Parliament will not be good for us," was the reaction of another party leader.

The Budget session is a three-month affair which generally starts in the third week of February and ends in May. It has a three-week recess in between to help the Parliamentary Standing Committees to go into the demands for grants of various ministries.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar is likely to make a fresh endeavour ahead of the Budget Session to break the Parliament deadlock on the 2G issue by calling leaders of political parties, who could not join her a fortnight back to discuss the issue.

Concern in the Congress comes in the wake of the just-concluded BJP National Executive at Guwahati which gave an unmistakable signal that the confrontation appears set to worsen ahead of Budget Session.

Last month, Government's offer of a special session of Parliament to discuss the need for a JPC to probe the spectrum scandal had not found favour with the opposition which has been firm on the JPC demand.