Parliament paralysed as govt refuses JPC probe on 2G scam

The multi-trillion-rupee scam involving telecommunications minister A. Raja continued to paralyse Parliament today, as the opposition refused to let it function, even as the Congress and its ally, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) tried to buy time.

The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government rejected calls for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the scam that allegedly caused a loss of Rs1.76 lakh crore (nearly $40 billion) to the national exchequer.

The Department of Telecommunications – which reports to Raja – also filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court today, refuting allegations that the minister's actions had resulted in huge losses. The apex court, which had last month passed severe strictures against Raja – who is from the DMK – will take up the matter next week.

Earlier this week, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) had indicted the controversial minister for not having heeded the advice given by the ministries of law and judiciary and finance, besides the Telecom Commission, while allocating the 2G spectrum to alleged favourites. The minister's decision, the CAG claimed, had resulted in a loss of Rs.1.76 lakh crore to the government.

But the DMK rubbished all such charges and claimed that Raja's decisions were based on the norms set by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the industry regulator. ''Why should Raja resign?'' demanded T.K.S. Elangovan, the party spokesman. ''The case is pending in the Supreme Court. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is also conducting an inquiry. The CAG is only an audit forum and if we go by its reports, no minister would be able to function.''

Though the opposition led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the AIADMK continued to block Parliament today, Raja is unlikely to quit immediately. The DMK is unlikely to take a call on his resignation at least for a week, as top leaders are busy with the wedding of the grandson of M. Karunanidhi, the party supremo and chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

With AIADMK chief – and former state chief minister – J. Jayalalitha also having sensed an opportunity to slam her bitter rival, especially in the run-up to assembly elections due next year, the DMK is wary about giving in to the opposition pressure.

The Congress, which recently sacked Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and the secretary of its Parliamentary party, Suresh Kalmadi, on far less serious charges, pleads helplessness in the case of Raja. ''We have to respect coalition dharma,'' said Jayanti Natarajan, the party spokesperson.