The bitterness over the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 2G spectrum scam prevailed over the debate on the issue, despite Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee assuring the Lok Sabha that the government would travel the extra mile to accommodate the Opposition.

As Leader of the House Mukherjee opened the debate, but when Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj charged the government over allegations of corruption and obduracy in the face of the opposition?s demands for a JPC, Mukherjee intervened.

?I only asked that a debate be held on the issue,? Mukherjee said during Swaraj?s speech.

Swaraj alleged that had the government conceded a JPC in the Winter Session of Parliament itself, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh would not have been asked by the Supeme Court to file an affidavit clearing his position in the 2G scam.

?This is a matter for introspection for you as to who is ignoring Consitutional provisions. I feel that what we term as judicial activism only occurs when the government of the day ignores Constitutional norms to suit itself,? she said.

Swaraj demanded that the ambit of the terms of referrence (see box) be expanded to examine the way money power and several industrial houses have permeated the system and all four estates of society.

It was, however, during former telecom minister Kapil Sibal?s speech that the Opposition and treasury benches clashed most bitterly.

Sibal began his speech by paying a back handed compliment to Swaraj?s persuasive oratory. ?When Sushmaji speaks she can turn truth to falsehood and falsehood to truth,? he said to loud protests by the Opposition, after which he recanted his statement.

From there he proceeded to hold the NDA regime just as culpable of the 2G scam as the current UPA regime. As his argument continued in this vein, former finance minister Yashwant Sinha intervened and demanded that Mukherjee withdraw the JPC.

?I request the Leader of the House to take back the resolution on JPC. We don?t want JPC, we don?t want charity. Kya hum bheekh maang rahe hain?? Sinha said.

It was again left to Pranab Mukherjee to douse the fires and Sibal quickly wound up his speech. After four hours of debate, the motion for the JPC was carried by voice vote.

In the end, Mukherjee struck a conciliatory note. ?We will be accommodative. We will travel the extra mile to ensure that these unfortunate events do not recur,? he said. He regretted that disruptions were spreading like an infectious disease and said, ?collectively we shall have to sort it out.?