With little prospect of the Opposition relenting in the Budget Session of Parliament on its demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 2G spectrum scam, a large section of the Congress party appears to be veering towards the view that the JPC could be granted. Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee held a late night meeting with parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and minister of state for parliamentary affairs Ashwini Kumar last night to mull over the issue. The government has invited the Opposition for talks on the issue on February 8.
Top sources indicate that a significant section of the Congress feels that it is time the government softened its stand on the JPC. ?Although arrests have been made by the CBI in the 2G spectrum case, it is under a Supreme Court-monitored investigation, and in other cases too although the Congress has been more than quick in taking action than others, but the perception on corruption in the government hasn’t changed,? said a top Congress leader.
?Instead by consistently denying a JPC, the government appears as though it has something to hide. The government could, in this situation ask for a debate on the need for a JPC, where it will put out in public every step that has been taken till now on corruption, at least that would be a opportunity for the government to take on the Opposition head on over its propaganda,? said the leader.
If any such announcement has to made, senior sources said, it would only be after the February 8 meeting. The relationship between the government and the Opposition having turned bitter, this subtle maneuvering may be a little difficult to achieve. ?We are hopeful though that the Budget session may see a break in the logjam,? said a source.