Murli Manohar Joshi defies BJP as PCA resumes 2G scam hearings

The public accounts committee (PAC) of parliament headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has decided to resume hearings in the 2G spectrum scam.

Brushing aside the BJP suggestion that he should go slow as the PAC probe could dampen the opposition campaign for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) inquiry, Joshi has summoned former telecom secretary DS Mathur and joint secretary Manju Madhavan on Friday.

He is reported to have assured the BJP high command that PAC proceedings won’t hinder the opposition drive as JPC would be headed by a Congress leader.

The resumption of hearings assumes significance as PAC is likely to consider prime minister Manmohan Singh’s offer last month to appear before it. Joshi is reported to have consulted Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar as her permission is required before accepting the offer.

The PAC chairman is, however, reportedly not in a hurry to call PM as the committee’s questionnaire for him is not yet ready. But he is gradually building a case to summon top Congress leaders who have prominently figured in the Nira Radia tapes, making them jittery. 

Sources said PAC does not require the speaker’s permission to summon anybody but cabinet ministers.