Amid Opposition walkout, government wins motion in Rajya Sabha
Amid protests and walkout by the entire Opposition, the government on Wednesday moved a motion in the Rajya Sabha — which was adopted by voice vote — for the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) “to inquire into the allegations of payment of bribes in the acquisition of VVIP helicopters by the Ministry of Defence from M/s AgustaWestland and the role of alleged middlemen in the transaction.”
The UPA was backed by parties supporting it from the outside, including the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party. The motion will later be moved in the Lok Sabha.
The JPC will have 10 members from the Rajya Sabha and 20 from the Lok Sabha and shall give its report within three months of its first sitting.
Before leading the walkout by members of the National Democratic Alliance (followed by the TDP, BJD, JD (U), AIADMK, Trinamool Congress, AGP and the Left parties), Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said it was a “diversionary tactic” as the JPC had no investigative powers. The matter required extradition and custodial interrogation of persons which the JPC could not do.
Mr. Jaitley said that while Italian investigators had arrested the bribe-giver, the Indian government was silent on the identity of the bribe-takers who must essentially be in India as the deal was signed by India.
“It is in your jurisdiction to identify the bribe-takers. You cannot pass the buck to the U.K. or Italy. By waiting for 367 days from the time you first received information in 2012 about payment of bribes till you ordered a preliminary inquiry by the CBI in 2013, you have allowed bribe-takers opportunity to destroy every piece of evidence. Because the government has not followed correct procedure, we oppose the motion,” he said.
CPI’s D. Raja asked the government to defer the motion as, he said, there was an “extraordinary situation” with the major Opposition parties walking out. “In such a situation, to put the motion to vote will be unfair. There should have been consultations,” he said. He was overruled by Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien who said that if there was no agreement he would put the motion to vote.
Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kamal Nath moved the motion — despite several members opposing it — minutes after Defence Minister A.K. Antony expressed the UPA’s willingness for a JPC probe.
“I want to know the truth and punish the guilty whoever it be, howsoever powerful,” Mr. Antony said in reply to a short discussion on the issue. “I thought of it [resigning],” he said and added “but I will not run away.”
He said India had approached the investigators and judiciary in Italy who said that under their secrecy clause, they could not share information till the investigations were over. In India a preliminary CBI inquiry was on.
Mr. Nath said the JPC would monitor the progress of the CBI’s investigation. “I do not understand why they [Opposition] are running away from a JPC, they who had taken up a whole session seeking a JPC on 2G spectrum deal. If we do not have a JPC, we will be accused…”
The House was divided between the formation of a JPC and a Supreme Court-monitored investigation by the CBI.
Keywords: VVIP chopper deal, JPC probe, A.K. Antony, AgustaWestland, Finmeccanica, CBI probe
After 2G experience, Govt learnt that JPC is of no use. Simply they delay the probe for 1-2 years and in the mean time there will be a blast somewhere. Then the entire public attention will be diverted towards it and close to election there will be some good doing /schemes to attract the public. Then they come to power and the cycle continues.
Yet another effort by Congress to push the scam under carpet of JPC(Joint Political Carpet) so that nothing can be found and it will the way of Bofors way.
Why not they file an FIR and run an inquiry? would government call for
JPC each time they got a red flag on any corruption done by their
people? Where is time bound inquiry? why always rule have a tweak for
bigwigs. bring justice to people.. we are watching you.
Few Individual in india and in Italy made this big scam of 3000 crores
over copter deal and enquire further in india and also at italy a 30 member crew is formed and they will submit the report after 3/6 months or even more time, atfer visiting Italy and other nearby places on a fact finding mission(in the week ends, they are permitted to have
some fun and sightseeing as well) adding to the family benefit.I am prepared to join the 30 member group if somebody is not coming and is short of the group.Looks funny and this can happen only India, the greatest democracy of the world.
it will be interesting to know who are in this JPC committee !
Mr. Jaitley is right. Why did it take the Govt. more than an year after it received information about the scam before ordering an inquiry? Who is it shielding? People remember the Bofors scam and how the notorious "Q" was shielded from the law by interested people at the highest levels of Govt. and are unwilling to trust it.
The republic and its politics have been reduced to more or less banana type with little hope to meet people's aspirations.Scams,following US lines in international politics,thereby making our influence waning in the world coupled with rise in communalism,casteism in our internal politics are predominant.Even it is a very sorry state of affairs that our leaders are in competition with Pakistan in gaining patronage of USA for their own intersts.A really very sad state of morass in which we are in 1
Media and public image apparently portray Anthony as a clean man and against corruption. Despite occupying the position involving highest responsibility he merely acts to satisfy the wishes of his GOD women SONIA and absolutely becomes a part of highly corrupt activities of congress government.His current puppet stand is more dangerous to the national security of our motherland.
What have these JPCs achieved in the past? Their only role is to shield the party in power. Let the loot go on! Why add additional burden on the poor common man!
Odd that the government needs a committee of 30 members of the Parliament to
probe this scandal. After, all the 3 member Justice Verma committee produced an
excellent report in less than 30 days.
One can safely assume that a 30 member committee of parliamentarians will take
a few years to make a worthless report which when published, would be irrelevant
anyway. After all, one can be sure that at that time some other gargantuan scandal
would eclipse this one.
Of course, I do assume that the worthies in this committee know their job, speak
English & Italian, understand tendering procedures, the functioning of the
helicopter industry and are themselves paragons of virtue and probity - untouched
by corruption, rape charges etc.
Best strategy. Delay the probe. By that time, new scandal will surface and people will forget old scandal. Keep on doing it as long as you are thrown out of power.
Another Joint Pathetic Committe formed to kill time. Criminal Justice System should rest in
peace
If we go by the truth-serum of the earlier JPCs...
Even God will not help us, as he helps only those, who help
themselves.
Congress and UPA want to throw this scam under Joint Political "Carpet"(JPC) in which its Party has enough majority to block the skeletons from coming out of its cup board. What is happening with JPC on 2G scam vis-a-vis the CBI inquiry under SC supervision for the same 2G scam is there for all to see the nefarious design of government to prevent impartial probe.
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