House panel to summon three BJP MPs

The panel decides to summon three BJP MPs, who had made the complaint, to record their statements and gather evidence from them.

The Parliamentary panel probing the alleged "cash-for-vote" scam on Wednesday decided to summon three BJP MPs, who had made the complaint, on August four to record their statements and gather evidence from them.

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The Enquiry Committee headed by senior Congress member V Kishore Chandra Deo held its first meeting on Wednesday and also decided to see the video footage of the sting operation of the entire episode.

The Committee has no say on the issue of telecasting the video footage by a television channel which recorded it.

"I have no power to withhold the tape or allow its screening. The TV channel is free to air," Deo told reporters when asked whether the Committee would allow screening of the sting operation before the panel completes its probe.

The Committee will call the three BJP MPs -- Ashok Argal, Fagan Singh Kulaste and Mahavir Bhagora -- to record their evidence.

Asked whether the Committee could summon members belonging to Rajya Sabha allegedly named by the BJP MPs, Deo said the panel has no power and it could send the request through the Speaker to the other House.

Asked to comment on BJP's demand for broad-basing the committee, Deo said it was for the Speaker to decide. "It is not an UPA versus NDA thing. We have always worked on non-partisan manner."