Even smaller parties like the Samajwadi Party, BSP and AIADMK joined the BJP in demanding the JPC.
The all-party meeting convened by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today saw almost the entire opposition speaking in one voice on their demand for a JPC probe into anomalies in the 2G spectrum allocation.
BJP parliamentary party chief and NDA working chairman LK Advani, while summing up the opposition viewpoint towards the end of the meeting, said neither should the government think that accepting the JPC demand would be its defeat nor should the opposition treat it as a victory.
"Advani said the general opinion in the country was in favour of a JPC probe and the government should be gracious enough to agree to it even without the opposition pressing for it," a leader present at the meeting said.
Mukherjee, who was the host at the luncheon meeting, said that he would convey the views of all the parties to the government and get back to them.
"No price is high for restoring the functioning of Parliament," Mukherjee said, according to sources.
This led the opposition to surmise that the government is "inching towards" accepting its demand for a JPC probe into the scam.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj categorically told the government that NDA would not agree to suggestions that first a debate be held in the house on the issue and then a decision be taken.
"Swaraj suggested that the government should move a motion in the house for formation of a JPC and then the issue of holding a debate or not holding it can be dealt with," a source said.
Interestingly, even smaller parties like Samajwadi Party, BSP and AIADMK were vocal in demanding a JPC probe during the meeting.
"SP spokesperson and MP Mohan Singh was strongly in favour of a JPC probe. Even the BSP echoed these sentiments saying a JPC should be formed as was AIADMK," a leader said.
The meeting was not without its lighter moments with NC leader and union minister Farooq Abdullah stating that his grandchildren had asked him why the Parliament had not functioned during the Winter session.
DMK leader T R Baalu reportedly said Parliament should first pass the annual budget and complete all the financial business and then think of discussing the JPC issue. Though no member intervened, several opposition MPs exchanged knowing smiles when Baalu gave this suggestion.
At the end of the meeting, opposition members - including those from the Left parties - appeared optimistic that the government is willing to concede to its JPC demand, leaders said.
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