Monsoon session delay casts shadow on JPC report

NEW DELHI: Uncertainty over Parliament’s monsoon session has put the brakes on the much-awaited conclusion of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the 2G spectrum scam.

Panel chairman PC Chacko is waiting for two vacancies to be filled up before calling its meeting where a tussle with the Opposition looks almost certain over adoption of the JPC report. The vacancies are created due to EMS Nachiappan (Congress)’s elevation as a Union minister and end of the House term for Thiruchi Shiva (DMK). “Earlier too, meetings had to be postponed till all vacancies were filled. I will also have to talk to senior members to find a suitable date where all members can be present to adopt the report,” Chacko told HT recently.

While Congress — led UPA, which has just 13 in the 30— member JPC, is pinning its hopes on some recent developments, i t , however, can’t afford vacancies from its own side.The political equations have changed between Congress and DMK following the former’s support for Kanimozhi’s Rajya Sabha berth.

After the split of NDA in Bihar, the JD(U) too, may not be very keen to toe the BJP line to corner PM Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram over the 2G spectrum scandal.It may be noted, the Opposition parties had opposed the draft JPC report that gave a clean chit to the PM and FM.As the two vacancies are to be filled through a motion in Rajya Sabha, no JPC meeting has been scheduled.

Ironically, the JPC is yet to hold its first meeting since the Lok Sabha speaker gave it an extension more than two months ago.

THE VACANCIES ARE CREATED DUE TO EMS NACHIAPPAN (CONGRESS)’S ELEVATION AS A UNION MINISTER AND END OF THE HOUSE TERM FOR THIRUCHI SHIVA (DMK).