For JPC

This refers to the editorial “If there's nothing to hide …” (Dec. 22). If the losses incurred in the 2G Spectrum allocation are as staggering as reported, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's claim that he has nothing to hide is amusing. As head of the UPA government, he is answerable for all its acts. Leadership comes with responsibility. And transparency and accountability are integral part of leadership.

Abdul Muqhtadir,

Manvi

While the Prime Minister's offer to appear before the Public Accounts Committee is welcome, the Opposition's dissatisfaction is understandable considering the magnitude of corruption in the spectrum scam. If there is nothing to hide, the Prime Minister should end the deadlock by agreeing to set up a JPC. In addition to the losses incurred in the spectrum scam, cores of rupees have gone down the drain with Parliament becoming dysfunctional in the winter session. If the government fails to accede to the Opposition demand, the budget session may also go the same way.

K.V. Seetharamaiah,

Hassan

If the honourable Prime Minister indeed has nothing to hide, why do we see this stubborn resistance from leaders of the ruling combine to the formation of a JPC? Nobody is questioning his integrity. But the same cannot be said of many of his Cabinet colleagues. To prove his bona fides, Dr. Singh should resist pressure from interested groups and demonstrate to the nation that he is indeed determined to root out corruption.

M.P. Padmanabhan,

Chennai

The refrain “there's nothing to hide” from Congress spokespersons and Ministers in every possible forum — and, now, from the Prime Minister himself who says he is ready to appear before the Public Accounts Committee — sounds unconvincing. The PAC has its limitations. When the Congress was ready to constitute a JPC in 1987 to probe the Bofors issue, one fails to understand why it is unwilling to do so now.

Chandran Dharmalingam,

The Nilgiris

Only a JPC probe can unearth the truth in corruption cases of huge magnitude such as the 2G spectrum scam and the Commonwealth Games scam. The UPA government cannot be casual about scams that have cost a huge loss to the exchequer.

Nirmala P. Rao,

Hyderabad

The editorial is precise and to the point. It is not the Prime Minister's personal integrity or uprightness that is under scrutiny. He is the chief executive of the government at the Centre and owes an explanation to the public. People are losing faith in the Congress, and were not impressed when its leader Sonia Gandhi uttered during the party's plenary that she intended to tackle corruption on a war footing. The public has a right to know what the government is up to, besides claiming an impressive economic growth.

C.S. Sukhavanam,

Coimbatore

Politics is all about contradiction and hypocrisy. There is huge gap between what is preached and what is practised. Dr. Singh and Ms Gandhi preached wonderful things at their party plenary. But they are not able to explain why a JPC cannot be constituted to probe the spectrum scam and why P.J. Thomas was appointed CVC.

Dheeraj Pandey,

Ghaziabad

Are writing and reading about the wrongdoings of leaders and forgetting about them all that we are capable of today?

It is not just the UPA government but almost all governments and political parties that are involved in corrupt activities. We need to clean the system so that coming generations can have a better place to live in.

Puneet Gupta,

Patiala

The Opposition's insistence on a JPC implies that it does not respect probes by other institutions.

It should wait and see whether the judiciary-monitored CBI investigation into the spectrum scam yields the desired result.

Virendra Kumar Singh,

New Delhi