As opposition ups the ante, Manmohan Singh will take a call on a joint parliamentary committee probe into the IPL controversy. It’s a tardy process as seen in Bofors and Harshad Mehta cases, but it will weather the storm.
The government and the opposition seem to be heading for a showdown on the contentious IPL issue with the latter demanding setting up of a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the role played by some members of Manmohan Singh’s cabinet.
The JPC is a time-consuming procedure as had been witnessed in the Bofors and Harshad Mehta cases. But, it could help weather the storm for the time.
The government seemed to be in no mood to oblige the opposition. The latter disrupted the proceedings in the two Houses of parliament on Friday.
The government’s intention was clearly visible. A core group of the Congress that met under the chairmanship of Sonia Gandhi on Friday did not favour a JPC.
However, the group left it to the prime minister to take a final call. The group met late on Friday evening following day-long disruption of parliament by the opposition.
Congress sources said finance minister Pranab Mukherjee briefed the party president and the prime minister on the issue. “The finance minister will meet the PM over the issue. The PM will then decide whether or not to go for a JPC probe,” sources said.
Both the BJP and the Left made a common cause in parliament on Friday while demanding a JPC probe into the IPL controversy. The opposition’s adamant attitude ahead of the passage of the crucial Finance Bill, slated for April 27, had alarmed the government.
Observing that the government will have to look into the demand for a JPC, Mukherjee, who is also the leader of Lok Sabha, said, “I will communicate your sentiments to the prime minister. As and when the government takes a decision, we will come to parliament. Let us wait for some time.”
However, the UPA camp was confident that the JPC demand would have no bearing on the passage of the Finance Bill. It was also clear from the stand taken by the BJP and Left that they would not disrupt passage of the Bill which is a constitutional requirement.
“We allowed discussion on grants for demand for the tribal affairs ministry during the second half of the day in Lok Sabha on Friday as we are committed to fulfilling our constitutional duties,” senior BJP leader SS Ahluwalia said.
Given the crucial support that Sharad Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) provides to the UPA government, it is unlikely that the ruling dispensation would accept the demand for a JPC. A section in the ruling UPA, however, felt that setting up of a JPC would depend on opposition pressure.
Under attack from all sides, Pawar was unfazed by allegations against his family and party colleague Praful Patel. “Why should we worry? We have nothing to do with IPL,” Pawar said.
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