Exactly a week after he made an offer to appear before the Public Accounts Committee probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday wrote to the PAC expressing his readiness to face it.
Dr. Singh sending a letter to PAC chairman Murli Manohar Joshi, a senior BJP leader, coincided with the appearance of the Comptroller and Auditor-General Vinod Rai before the committee. It was the CAG report that projected a presumptive loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer in 2G spectrum allocation in 2008, whipping up a political upheaval that ultimately led to the resignation of Telecom Minister A. Raja last month.
“In view of recent propaganda that the Prime Minister is unwilling to be questioned by a parliamentary committee, I would like to inform you that I am willing to appear before the PAC should the Committee choose to seek clarifications from the Prime Minister, though I believe there is no precedent of the Prime Minister appearing before a PAC,” Dr. Singh said in his letter.
Reacting, Dr. Joshi said the PAC would take an “appropriate decision at an appropriate time.”
On December 20, Dr. Singh told the Congress plenary here that he had nothing to hide from the public at large and in proof of his bona fides he would be happy to appear before the PAC if it “chooses to ask me to do so.” He told the delegates: “I sincerely believe that like Caesar's wife, the Prime Minister should be above suspicion and it is for this reason that I am prepared to appear before the PAC even though there is no precedent to that effect.”
Under the rules of procedures and conduct of business in the Lok Sabha, the PAC cannot call a Minister to give evidence or for consultations in connection with an examination of accounts by it. The PAC Chairman, may, however, have an informal talk with a Minister on the subject under consideration by the panel.
In this case, the Speaker may have to devise a procedure on how the PAC could accept the Prime Minister's offer to appear before it. Dr. Singh said that to the best of his knowledge, the PAC took evidence from the Secretaries of the department concerned or the head of the department or public sector undertakings.
He said the CAG submitted the report on the issue of licensing and allocation of 2G spectrum by the Department of Telecommunications. It was tabled in Parliament in November last and the PAC was looking into it.
“As you are aware, the PAC has sought copies of correspondence between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Communications and Information Technology as well as the Prime Minister's Office and the Department of Telecommunications on issues relating to 2G and 3G spectrum,” Dr. Singh said in the letter.
Keywords: 2G scam, Manmohan Singh, Public Accounts Committee
Mr PM is more accpuntable than his other ministerial colleague.After all it is government inhis name. What is the problem with him is not understandable, ifhe can face PAC same can be explained before JPC.Further there is no fear as all the commissions/committees/JPC have end up with no result. No culprit is yet found in any scam, same will be the fate of this JPC also. Let the interestedpeople on job and spent a little more money in investigation fating them. The people in power have no daring to deal corrupt, afterall they are their financers. All the politicians have spoild the nation If soniaji, manmohan or any leaders coming to power is really want to eradicate most evils of society, TheY should concentrate on education. Educate the mass and many problems will solve, at least the corruption.Please donot play with the nation. We ARE ALREADY VERY POOR COUNTRY.
PM is really turning into a joker he is talking like Lalu Yadav now. He choosing to appear before PAC and not JPC is like robber deciding which police officer should investigate his robbery. Now its high time PM should know it is India's educated and middle class who voted him to power, other than this class no one knew his integrity much, who very well understands the difference between PAC and JPC. And it is this middle class who are asking for JPC and answers, ask him to forget BJP. If he continues to run away from JPC he is running away from credibility all together. If he is really sincere and nothing to hide then why shy away from JPC. In fact if Sonia is also innocent she and Rahul should also appear before the JPC. I am the same admi who voted congress earlier. If the middle class drifts away from congress they will take along with them the lower class who depend or in contact with them. Just 3% to 4% vote shift is enough in today's fragile scenario. If one sees each and every MP/MLA margin votes with they won to their opponents is not too high and in fact in some cases its even less then the percentages I discussed. I don't think PM has any other way but to go for JPC and if possible resign as PM till he is cleared from JPC and let congress find some other incumbent PM till then. For one railway incident when LalBahadurShastri resigned from ministry taking moral responsibility, then why cant PM move out till he is cleared from all gruesome corruption charges. I know my suggestion will not be published but I sincerely appreciate if this is shown to PM once.
Knowing well that the demand for JPC is becoming more and more a popular, as called for by the entire Opposition, the PM wants to divert the attention. His volunteering to appear before PAC will not and should not end the stalemate. Instead, he must accept the Opposition demand, and appear before a JPC. The United Opposition, should stand FIRM,, not deterred by these ploys. Only the nation will find the truth behind these scams, rocking the nation.
What are the Congress, BJP and others are trying to prove that they are correct in their own terms? India has lagged only because the policies were made, bent and removed only to cater to a particular sect of people. To my knowledge salaried/daily waged people are the true citizens, at least one pay his tax as it is deducted from his salary and the other doesn't even have enough to fill his stomach but still gives his blood and body to make better roads and buildings. India is still running good only because the people and not because of the government. The Indian government has failed from the start to get into the correct path of development.
It is too much for the BJP to demand still the constitution of the JPC when the Prime Minister himself has expressed his willingness to appear before the PAC and clarify his position. It is nothing but political vendatta to demand for a JPC for the same question.
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