In a bid to end the impasse in Parliament, the Congress on Friday sought the cooperation of the Opposition to ensure a smooth budget session, even as it appeared to soften slightly on the demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam.
While continuing to stress that the party remained opposed to the JPC idea, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told journalists here, “We are open to discussing a resolution on the issue in Parliament,” adding it would have to be followed by voting.
However, she did not clarify whether the Congress favoured such resolutions in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, saying it was for the government to decide.
Ms. Natarajan's remarks assume significance as she expressed a hope that a solution would emerge when Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met Opposition parties on February 8.
She said it was important to ensure the budget session ran smoothly and “all important issues that agitate the minds of the Opposition” were discussed on the floor of the House. “This is an appeal, and we hope that at that [February 8] meeting the deadlock will be broken and Parliament will continue in the normal routine way.”
Though her tone was generally conciliatory, Ms. Natarajan criticised the Opposition for continually changing the goalposts — earlier, it had asked for the sacking of Mr. Raja and then for his arrest. But clearly this did not satisfy the Opposition, she said.
Answering a barrage of questions, she said the Congress appeal should not be interpreted to mean that the party had softened its stand on the issue of a JPC as it was still opposed to the setting up of such a committee. She pointed out that discussing in Parliament whether or not to have a JPC was not a new idea, and had been in the public domain for some time now.
