BJP welcomes Supreme Court order on 2G spectrum issue but insists on JPC

BJP today welcomed the Supreme Court direction to the CBI to carry out investigations in the second-generation mobile telephony spectrum scam from 2001-08, which includes part of the NDA tenure, but insisted that only a joint parliamentary committee probe could bring out the whole truth.

"BJP welcomes the directions of the Supreme Court to monitor the CBI probe into 2G spectrum scam. We fully endorse the instructions of the Supreme Court in the scam involving more than Rs 1.76 Lakh Crore. Having said that, BJP still strongly demands creation of a JPC and we reiterate this demand," BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said.

Asked if BJP had any issues with the period to be investigated by CBI as per the SC directives, Rudy insisted that his party had even agreed to a probe from 1998 onwards.

"We welcome the period of investigation which CBI has to look into from 2001-08. In fact, BJP had even said we can have the investigations from 1998. Infact, my friends in the Congress will now have no alibi whatsoever to say that period has been left out," Rudy said.

The principal opposition has also expressed happiness at the time-bound investigations with the apex court directing CBI to file a report by February 10, 2011.

However, BJP is still firm on its demand for a JPC probe.

"The Supreme Court direction in no way dilutes our stand. In fact, it vindicates the stand taken by the BJP and the entire opposition," Rudy said.

He maintained that the CBI would only investigate the "criminal conduct" whereas a JPC would look into all aspects of the scam.

"There are several aspects like why the prime minister did not give sanction to prosecute A Raja for 11 months, Raja's contention that PM was taken into confidence on the decisions taken, and how some people lobbied that Raja gets the telecom ministry. CBI has a mandate only to investigate corruption charges," Rudy said.

"All aspects can only be ascertained by a JPC," he added.

Asked about reports suggesting the involvement of Ranjan Bhattacharya, foster son-in-law of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Rudy said BJP had all along insisted that the whole issue should be investigated to bring out the truth.