2G scam: Congress disrupts PAC meeting

Stumped by their own googly to discredit the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in the 2G case, Congress MPs on Monday created a ruckus to stall the proceedings of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). They also prevented re-examining of the witnesses before the PAC.

The PAC had gathered to re-examine RP Singh, one of the authors of the CAG’s 2G report, on the demand of Congress MP from Mumbai, Sanjay Nirupam, who had pointed out “serious differences between CAG and PAC” reports.

Nirupam had claimed that the “CAG report was not credible” in wake of press statements by Singh, who had reportedly disputed CAG’s estimation of loss figure of Rs1.76 lakh crore. Singh had reportedly said the losses were to the tune of Rs2,645 crore.

Keen to use news reports about Singh’s contention to its benefit, the Congress had sought to re-examine the official as a witness before PAC. Though Nirupam’s demand was as per Congress strategy to discredit the CAG, it boomeranged after BJP took it as an opportunity to re-open the “closed” debate. The BJP members officially maintain the report on 2G was “unfinished task,” to what Congress calls a “closed chapter”.

The Monday’s meeting was marred by arguments between Nirupam, and BJP members including Murli Manohar Joshi. The Congress was opposed to the presence of CAG boss Vinod Rai in the committee where Singh was to depose. Nirupam’s argument was it would be difficult for Singh to depose freely before his former boss, the CAG.

However, sources said Singh, in a letter to PAC, had denied dissent and said he agreed with the loss calculated by the CAG. He said the news reports were based on RTI sought from the CAG office. He also submitted the draft audit report and other documents to the PAC.

Arguments led to hardening of stands by both sides and even though Vinod Rai proposed to sit out for a while if the committee so wished, Joshi ruled the presence of CAG in PAC meeting was as per rules, hence, his presence was important. More so, since Singh was himself ready to depose before the CAG. Sources said Joshi is learnt to have said sending CAG out would set a wrong precedence. The BJP feels after having goofed up by raking up the issue, Congress did not want this subject to come up before PAC and they did not want Singh to depose.

“You cannot question conduct of CAG in PAC. Congress is not interested in impartial inquiry. Since they got trapped in their own game they were desperate to wriggle out,” said the member.