Speaker calls meeting to end parliament impasse

NEW DELHI - Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has called a meeting of all political parties Tuesday in an effort to break the logjam in parliament over the opposition’s demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum allocation of 2008.

“I have called a meeting tomorrow. Let me see what happens. I will be trying and making an effort,” the speaker said.

She added that she was hopeful about the meeting ending the stalemate in parliament.

Parliament was adjourned for the 12th successive day Monday following the opposition insisting on a JPC. The government has contended that there was no need for JPC as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was already looking at the Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) report on the 2G spectrum controversy.

The government has held two rounds of talks with opposition leaders to end the stalemate but without success.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nirmala Sitharaman said the Congress was sticking to its no-JPC position though all concerned understand that the JPC has wide powers.

The Congress is adamant. The opposition’s reasons are out and clear. We want a JPC, she said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said there was a possibility of the JPC working along political lines.

They (the opposition) are just saying the same thing… I think they are saying something and mean something else, he said.