2G: Cong,BJP question each other’s ‘cleanliness’ in power

Targetting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,the BJP-led NDA demanded that he resign if he did not want a JPC in the 2G spectrum issue and answer charges before it. BJP said Singh cannot wash his hands off the corruption that has taken place.

“The Prime Minister should form the JPC and answer our questions and if you (PM) cannot answer our questions,then you should step down from your post on moral grounds,” Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said in his address at the NDA’s ‘mahasangram’ rally against corruption. The rally was held at the Ram Lila grounds in Delhi,two days after the Prime Minister at the party’s plenary session categorically dismissed the Opposition’s demand for a JPC into the 2G scam and offered instead to appear before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) looking into the issue.

The BJP and its NDA partners directed their fire towards the Prime Minister,saying his offer to appear before the Public Accounts Committee was not enough and the government should agree to a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam.

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj was equally critical of the Congress and its coalition government. “Why are they afraid of JPC?” she asked. She said four JPCs had been formed until now to probe various scandals,including two during previous Congress regimes.”The (Niira) Radia tapes have exposed the stink in the executive,the legislature,the judiciary and the fourth estate,the four pillars of a democracy,” she said. “Neither the Supreme Court nor the PAC can answer the questions we are raising,” she said. “If they have nothing to hide,why are they afraid of JPC?”

The Congress got into a huddle and called a press meet soon after. Party spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi took stage and said the BJP’s rhetoric was a classic case of ‘ Chor kotwal ko daantey ‘.

“We practice the ideology of sincerity. They preach the ideology of shor ,that of rallies which are meaningless. Their preachings have no practice,” Singhvi said.

He then went on to wield Congress’ main weapon in the elaborate retaliation strategy – Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s involvement in the alleged land scam in the state. Singhvi said: “I will remind you of the Tehelka scam,the petrol pump scam… and,of course,Karnataka.”

At the ‘mahasangram’ rally,senior BJP leaders were extremely critical,and some down right personal.

“It has never happened that the Prime Minister would have to say that he has nothing to hide. That he would not go to a JPC but can depose before a PAC,” Jaitley said.

Challenging the Prime Minister to depose before a JPC,NDA working president L K Advani said,“In India’s history,the Supreme Court has perhaps never asked the Prime Minister to give an affidavit in a case.”

He said,“The campaign against corruption was in a way a campaign against the Prime Minister. He should come before the JPC and say whatever he wants to say.”

Addressing the rally,Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said,“The government is not giving in to the demand for a JPC as it fears that this issue will be kept alive.”

Holding that the Prime Minister cannot shake off his responsibility on the issue of corruption,she said,“If corruption is happening under your nose and you are not doing anything,then you are a participant in it.”

Swaraj said she had only one question for the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. “Madam,why no JPC? Mr Prime Minister,why no JPC?”

BJP president Nitin Gadkari attacked the government on the alleged corruption in Commonwealth Games projects and said when the budget for the Games was “inflated”,the sanctions were given by the Finance Minister,Group of Ministers,Cabinet and the Prime Minister.

“Congress ministers have been involved in corruption and so the party has no right to talk about taking strict action against corruption,” he said.

On the other hand,Congress rejected the Bharatiya Janata Party’s demand for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s resignation for shooting down a JPC probe.

The party said the government had taken enough concrete action on allegations of graft. “On the one hand is the concrete action taken by Congress,on the other is the false rally and double-speak of the BJP,” Singhvi said about the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rally in New Delhi.

Singhvi said that a multi-pronged probe was being conducted in the 2G spectrum scam.

“JPC can at best make recommendations,” he said,adding that the BJP and other Opposition parties wanted to indulge in “political grandstanding and to keep the pot boiling”.

Hitting out at the BJP,Singhvi alleged the BJP had established “new records in corruption” and said it was the only party in the world whose president was caught on camera taking cash.

“Instead of action against the party president,he was given a ticket,” Singhvi said.

“The PMO (Prime Minister’s office) is being run in a clear,clean manner,” he asserted.

He termed as “bold,open and transparent” Manmohan Singh’s offer to appear before parliament’s Public Accounts Committee that is examining the Comptroller and Auditor General’s report on the 2G spectrum issue.