In a dramatic new twist to the telecom controversy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday offered to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), which is examining the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG)'s report on the 2G spectrum scam.
Speaking on the concluding day of the 83rd plenary session of the Congress here, Dr. Singh, in an emotional passage, accused the BJP “of falsely propagating” that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was opposed to setting up a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the scam as it did not want the Prime Minister questioned by it.
“I wish to state categorically,” the Prime Minister said, “that I have nothing to hide from the public at large and as proof of my bona fides, I intend to write to the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee that I shall be happy to appear before the PAC if it chooses to ask me to do so…even though there is no precedent to that effect.”
As Prime Minister, he said, he had tried to serve his country to the best of his ability, and since he believed that “like Caesar's wife, the Prime Minister should be above suspicion,” he was prepared to be appear before the PAC.
Dr. Singh's offer highlighted the anxiety in the party that if the Opposition did not relent on its JPC demand and stalled the budget session of Parliament as well, the UPA's credibility would get further eroded.
Like every other party leader, he also ruled out a JPC probe, saying that since the government had initiated “multifaceted action” against those involved in the scam, setting up a JPC would only “delay the inquiry and politicise the matter.”
Simultaneously, he assured the party that his government would implement a five-point action plan to tackle corruption that was suggested by party president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday.
The Prime Minister promised that all those against whom evidence was found in the ongoing enquiries into the Commonwealth Games mess and the 2G spectrum scam would be punished. “No guilty person will be spared — whether he is a political leader or a government official, whichever party he may belong to and howsoever powerful he may be.”
Dr. Singh also dwelt at length on the government's “skilful” management of the economy during the global slowdown. He said he expected that the growth rate from next year onwards would be between 9 and 10 per cent.
This, he said, would help the government to invest more resources in the social sector, especially in education and health.
Keywords: Congress plenary session, 2G spectrum scam, UPA government, Manmohan
This is the only chance we Indians will ever have (for a long time to come) to rid ourselves of corruption. People's tolerance for pain as for corruption, is always measured by high watermarks, and this time the high watermark is very, VERY high. If we Indians do not get to the bottom of this thuggery, and bring the guilty to book and rid ourselves of this galloping cancer, then all is lost. Here is why! If this level of corruption is left unnoticed, unchallenged and unchecked, then both the Congress, the BJP (another criminally corrupt party, equal only to Congress in corruption), and mostly all the political class in fact, will continue to loot the country, but they will do it next time and time after that, in safely but much smaller scams. These many scams to come will be measured against this Spectrum scam, and our kismet oriented tolerant people will feel it is not a big one. Their reaction will be "let it pass. We know they are corrupt politicians and look, it is nothing like or as big as the Spectrum scam!". No! As a people, let us to the bottom of this. Corruption is a Capital Crime and must be dealt with Capital Punishment. Let these criminals; whoever they are, face Capital Punishment. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY OUT FOR US!!! The press should help us. Will THE HINDU do so??
If it is a genuine effort to eradicate corruption then authorities need to plug all these loop holes. a)presently corrupt Officials are punished if ruler want it. Thus, unfortunately, there is set rule for common man and there is no rule for politician ( Eg: they can hire goondas and intimidate poor people to part with there land kept for livelyhood, cannot question a leader when his party arranges celebration like firing cracker, loudspeaker playing even after 2100hrs, beating drums and making loud noises ie., when he is a disturbance to community at large during their visit to places). If these things are to be eradicated then, a)any individual harms any individual for monetary/ other consideration without having any earlier contact or enemity (goondas), that individual must be snetenced to life long imprisionment along with the individual who hired him/his. If the goonda is not revealing the master, then he has to be hanged. This is the only way it can be ensured that rule of the land is commonly applicable for all in this country. b)Like Judicary, police will also should be under president and not with any ministry. c)There must be time limit for disposal of the cases pertaining to corruption. d)All transcation above Rs 1000/= should be only through internet against indiviual citizen code/ company code and any liquid money transaction above Rs 1000/= needs to be probed. If only such radical thinking and rules are implemented it is possible to eradicated corruption. Else, this is going to be only in paper to eradicated the bad image.
Dear Sir,
The Prime Minister's statement tries to evoke people's sympathy towards himself as well as the Congress. But he had better take responsibility for the entire spectrum episode and voluntarily step down. Ignorance, indifference and lack of control over his cabinet/ministry can never be construed as honesty and he is making a mockery of the office of the country's highest elected
office. Why would he not concede to a JPC investigation headed by untainted and level-headed members from all the parties if everything went by the books and per his connivance? The stakes are so high that this ongoing battle can almost be termed as a "fight to the finish" between Congress and its allies versus the opposition. A JPC investigation would put India's "Family Party" out of power for ever and the nexus between the Ruling Party Ministers, the big corporations and lobbyists would stand exposed forever. How each and every government office/department's rules and regulations was freely flouted to create the greatest scam in the history of any democracy would be bared before the public.
Considering the magnitude of the scam, why not go to the people to get a special and emergency mandate on whether the JPC is required or not? I am sure that the entire people of India would want to know the Truth, cutting accross party lines.
Rise up, my dear citizens and demand the truth! Let this also be a warning for all the opposition parties that the people of India can no longer be taken for granted.
Sincerely,
Bharath (California, USA)
Sir,
Do it in action, not just in words. We have seen how ineffective your government is in curtailing corruption. Your words mean nothing to us.
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