Why govt doesn’t want JPC on IPL

The Manmohan Singh government is veering round to the view that a joint parliamentary probe (JPC) into the IPL controversy would not serve any purpose.

The Manmohan Singh government is veering round to the view that a joint parliamentary probe (JPC) into the IPL controversy would not serve any purpose.

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The issue is likely to disrupt Parliament on Monday with the Opposition demanding the JPC on the IPL as well as phone-tapping issues.

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said the party will call for suspension of question hour over phone-tapping. “In UPA’s term, this is turning out to be the biggest scandal. Why is the government silent?”

The PM will take a final call on the JPC on IPL, but sources say, the government may not be keen on such a panel.

For one, it wouldn’t carry conviction as it would have to include NCP members whose leaders Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel figure in the controversy.

Secondly, the investigations would get prolonged. “...Nothing much would come out of a JPC probe, which is recommendatory in nature,’’ said a government source.

Some experts believe the JPC is not the best way to deal with the matter. Former CBI director Joginder Singh was quoted saying such a probe “at this point seems premature’’ as some agencies are investigating it.

Advising the government against interfering in sports matters, jurist Fali S. Nariman said it would be more appropriate to set up a commission of inquiry led by a senior judge.

There are also apprehensions that a JPC would help the Opposition keep the issue alive, strain Congress-NCP relations and create a piquant situation where Pawar would be under the scanner.