BJP feels govt avoiding JPC as it will keep 2G issue alive

New Delhi: BJP and other Opposition parties feel the government is shying away from a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam as it will keep the issue alive for several months and lead to leaks to the media which will embarrass the government.

"It appears that the government fears formation of a JPC, with several opposition MPs, will keep the issue alive for several months during which it will be cornered time and again on the 2G spectrum allocation issue," a senior BJP leader said.

The JPCs formed in the past have usually had a term of around 18 months.

Opposition leaders feel the government would get away lightly if only a discussion is held in Parliament on the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"Public memory is short. After a discussion takes place in Parliament on an issue, it is overtaken by another issue. For example, everybody has now forgotten the IPL issue," the leader said.

Since MPs from both Houses of Parliament representing different parties would be part of the JPC probe, the government fears they would take on the UPA on issues after getting access to official files during the investigations, he claimed. 

Government not against court monitoring spectrum probe

Opposition leaders, however, said the apprehension that even the Prime Minister could be summoned by the JPC is misplaced.

"The JPCs on Harshad Mehta stock scam and Kirit Parekh Securities scam wanted to summon the then prime ministers but the idea was dropped. The finance ministers were called by the two JPCs. Even in the 2G spectrum case, a JPC calling the PM would be too much," a senior leader said.

However, Opposition leaders claim this fear could be lurking somewhere in the back of the minds of those occupying the Treasury Benches.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj said the government had no plausible reason to turn down the JPC demand.

"Two JPCs were formed during the earlier Congress government while two were formed when NDA was in power. The JPC demand on a issue is nothing new," she said.

She maintained that Opposition also wanted Parliament to run smoothly.

"When the Lok Sabha Speaker suggested that at least the Question Hour should be allowed to held, I said why just one hour? The House should run the whole day. Opposition is ready to sit till 12 midnight and help pass important legislations. But only after our JPC demand is met," Swaraj said.