Worried over future of parliamentary system: PM

ON BOARD AIR INDIA ONE - Breaking his silence over the current controversy involving allotment of 2G telecom spectrum licences, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday said the existing parliamentary mechanism was good enough to look into the issue.

Speaking to reporters on his way to Berlin from Brussels, Manmohan Singh said he was “worried” about the future of the parliamentary system in the wake of continuous disruption of parliament’s proceedings by the opposition to press its demand for a joint parliamentary committee probe ionto spectrum scam.

“I have repeatedly told the opposition that existing mechanisms can do what a JPC can,” he said.

Asked when he will break his silence on the issue, the prime minister said: “In due course”.

“I am worried about the future of the parliamentary system; I hope reason will prevail,” the prime minister said when asked what if the opposition carries over its protests to the next year’s budget session as it has threatened to do.

The winter session of parliament, that began Nov 9, has been pulverised due to opposition demand for a JPC to probe the controversial allotment of airwaves to telecom companies in 2008, which is alleged to have caused huge losses to the exchequer. The session, which ends Monday, has witnessed daily adjournments over the issue.

The prime minister was in Brussels to attend the India-European Union summit Friday. He arrives in India Sunday morning.