Face JPC or quit, opposition tells PM, takes battle to street

“Face joint parliamentary committee (JPC) or quit.’’ With the battle cry ready, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) hit the street on Wednesday to intensify its attack on prime minister (PM) Manmohan Singh over the second generation mobile telephony spectrum scam probe.

The opposition, which rejected Singh’s offer two days ago to face the public accounts committee (PAC), also sought his resignation if he failed to meet their demand for the JPC.

The Congress shifted the onus of ending the parliamentary logjam on the opposition. “If dialogue in a democracy means give and take, then you should ask the BJP what it is willing to give,” said Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi.

The NDA protest did not demand the UPA government’s ouster outright though most speakers focused on “rampant corruption” in UPA-II. It was dominated by the BJP leadership as most of the leading lights of the allies were missing.

Senior BJP leader LK Advani once again sought to rake up the issue of “weak PM” but qualified it by saying “seemingly weak’’, possibly wary of the strong rebuff offered by Singh on earlier occasions.

Advani packed his punches with wit and reminded the PM that he had all the authority to order a JPC probe. “Please say that if I can appear before a PAC, I can appear before a JPC,” the veteran BJP leader said.

The BJP’s leaders of opposition in the two houses of Parliament — Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj - launched a direct attack against the prime minister. “The PM should face JPC or quit,” Jaitley said.

Sushma said Singh should come clear on the issue of JPC probe or it would be construed that he was hiding facts. “Why yes to PAC and no to JPC?” Sushma asked. She reminded that the NDA government had accepted the opposition’s demand for a JPC.

“We had agreed to keep rules aside and appoint Sharad Pawar as its head,” she reminded.

The prime minister also came in for sharp criticism on the issue of the appointment of the chief vigilance commissioner (CVC).

Raising the issue, Jaitely said Singh should answer questions related to the CVC’s appointment. At the same time, he alleged that the Congress’ policies were being decided by corporates and lobbyists.

“Congress leaders are trying to distract people on the issue of corruption by indulging in cover up,” he said.

Taking on the BJP, the Congress spokesperson said the UPA has come up with offers from time to time to resolve the issue. ``But let us find out as to what the BJP has to offer,” he added.

Singhvi asserted that his party had suggested at least eight steps that could lead to a successful probe into the 2G scam. “The latest offer by the prime minister to appear before the PAC highlights the fact that he has nothing to hide and the government is not scared,” the Congress spokesperson observed. Singhvi also stuck to the party’s position on the futility of the JPC.