Govt has its way in JPC; 2G report gives clean chit to PM

With the support of outside allies BSP and SP and absence of JD(U) members, Government today managed to have its way in the JPC on 2G scam when the panel approved the draft report giving clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram with a 16-11 vote in its favour.

Eleven opposition members, including BJP's 5 and one each of BJD, TMC, CPI, CPI(M), AIADMK and DMK voted against the Joint Parliamentary Committee report that accused former Telecom Minister A Raja of "misleading" the Prime Minister and "belying" the assurances given to him.

Of the total 30 members in the committee, three members, including Gopinath Munde from BJP, and Sharad Yadav and Ramchandra Prasad Singh - both JD (U) - were absent.

Out of the 27 present, the ruling side got the votes of Congress (11), NCP (one), BSP (2), SP (1) and Nominated member from Rajya Sabha Ashok Ganguly. Panel chief P C Chacko also voted as a Congress member. NCP member Y P Trivedi was not present in the committee room when votes were being cast. He later gave Chacko a written statement supporting the draft report.

Attacking the outcome, BJP leader and member of the committee Yashwant Sinha said a contrived majority has been "unashamedly" used to adopt a report based on "wrong facts, falsehood and prejudicial" findings without the consideration of the Committee.

"Government will be asked to table an action taken report on the JPC findings within three months of its presentation to the Speaker," Chacko told reporters after the meeting. In a meeting which lasted a little over one hour, Chacko overruled shrill demands by opposition members to adopt the report after "more consultations". Those who pressed for more discussions included DMK's T R Baalu, CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta and Sinha.