Prime Minister announces JPC to save budget session

Yielding to the Opposition's demand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced the government's decision to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum scam. HT reports. Committee for buying amity

Yielding to the Opposition's demand, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday announced the government's decision to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum scam.

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“We could not succeed to persuade the Opposition not to insist on a JPC probe despite our best efforts. The country can ill afford disruption of the crucial budget session of Parliament,” Singh said in the Lok Sabha.

“It is in these special circumstances that the government agrees to the setting up of a JPC,” he said.

A JPC is an ad hoc committee comprising members of both houses of Parliament. It is mandated to investigate a specific subject. Four JPCs have been set up in the past, with the first instituted in August 1987 to probe the highly publicised Bofors guns deal.

Welcoming the government's move, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said, “We should not see this as a victory or defeat. This is a victory of democracy. We should all work together, putting aside any talk of victory or defeat.” Are troubles over JPC over?

CPM leader Sitaram Yechury objected to the manner in which the PM made the announcement, saying he probably wanted to say that a JPC was not required.