Yashwant Sinha’s demand rebuffed by PM, JPC chief

NEW DELHI, Apr 3:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today rebuffed BJP leader Yashwant Sinha’s demand for his appearance before JPC on 2G, saying a call on this issue should be taken by the Committee whose chief ruled out any such possibility.
Two days after Sinha, a JPC member, wrote to him, Singh responded by saying that he has nothing to hide and all “pertinent” documents related to 2G spectrum allocation of 2008 are available with the committee.
“The decision as to what evidence should be sought and which individuals should be asked to appear before the JPC is a matter that needs to be decided internally by the JPC and its Chairman,” the Prime Minister said in his letter to Sinha.
Singh underscored that he had said “from the beginning that neither the Government nor I have anything to hide in this matter” related to 2G spectrum allocation.
“You are aware that all pertinent records and documents available with the Government have already been placed at the disposal of the JPC,” he told the BJP leader.
Sinha had demanded that Singh should appear before JPC to “clear” his name after former Telecom Minister A Raja alleged that the Prime Minister was in the loop over 2G spectrum allocation.
JPC Chairman P C Chacko also rejected Sinha’s demand, saying the committee has “passed that phase” and was in the process of drafting its report.
“There is no question of calling the Prime Minister or any minister just like that. We cannot call people merely because of somebody making a statement, “ Chacko, who is also Congress spokesman, told reporters here.
The JPC chief, who had yesterday rubbished Sinha’s demand as a “political stunt”, today questioned how any individual member of the committee could make such a suggestion when a due process has to be followed on whether any minister has to be called before the panel or not.
Chacko claimed that “in the 56 meetings of the JPC, nobody gave a suggestion for calling the Prime Minister or any Minister.”
“Moreover, there is a rule that no minister can be called before the JPC. If at all JPC wants to call a minister, it has to take a unanimous decision first and then send the request to Lok Sabha Speaker. Any minister can be called before a Parliamentary panel only after the permission of the Speaker,” the JPC Chairman said.
Responding to questions by reporters, Chacko said “if the JPC is not calling the PM  (to appear before it), what can the Prime Minister do?”
He said there are five senior BJP members in the JPC and they could raise the issue in the Committee which can take a decision on the matter.
Chacko maintained that Sinha, being a senior politician, knows the rules and he should cooperate with the committee to help produce a good report.
He said the JPC has enough material and documents to draft a report, which is in the final stages.
Questioning Sinha for directly writing to the Prime Minister, Chacko said it amounts to denigrating the committee.
Chacko said Sinha’s letter has “no relevance” as decisions including calling a minister have to be taken by the committee and “not individuals.”
Sinha, who along with other BJP members had boycotted JPC proceedings last year for some time to press for calling the Prime Minister, justified his demand, saying Singh had offered to appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) when it was examining 2G scam.
He said he should not hesitate from deposing before JPC.
Rejecting this contention, Chacko said, “Despite the Prime Minister’s willingness to appear before PAC, why was he not called? Sinha ji should ask this question to the PAC Chairman (Murli Manohar Joshi).”
He said the Prime Minister had never offered to appear before the JPC. (PTI)

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