BJP wants to politicise 2G scam issue: Congress

NEW DELHI - Congress spokesperson Janaradan Dwivedi on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) just wanted to politicise the 2G scam issue with their continuous disruptions in the Parliament over the setting up of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the same.

BJP along with other opposition parties had stalled the entire winter session of Parliament, demanding for a JPC probe.

Addressing a press conference here, Dwivedi said: “How is it logical to not let the Parliament proceed and stay adamant at the demand of a JPC? Not only this, as you are raising this question that’s why we aren’t allowing a JPC. What was the new thing that the JPC could have done and these forums cannot. That means that you (BJP) are disrespecting the Parliament, disrespecting Public Accounts Committee (PAC).”

“You do not want to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court. All these situations are very unfortunate. This simply means that you are not interested in enquiry. You do not let the truth come out but only want to politicise the issue,” he added.

Dwivedi further said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee only wanted discussions to happen.

Mukherjee had earlier said he tried his best to bring in several BJP leaders for a healthy debate on the 2G spectrum allocation scam but all his efforts were foiled.

“I think the main problem with them (BJP) is that United Progressive Alliance (UPA) got majority of votes. So, they want that some discussions or the other should continue to divert people’s attention from the developmental work, to divert their attention from the success of the UPA-2. I feel this kind of intention,” said Dwivedi.

“So, keeping this intention in mind, Pranab ji said that if they want discussions, we can think about it. That does not mean that a special session has been called for already,” he added.

Reacting upon Rahul Gandhi’s visit to South, Dwivedi said that the alliance of Congress and the DMK is still there.

“Our alliance with the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) is there and will remain there. If there is something like this, the environment is different and there is nothing like that. So, this question is not right,” said Dwivedi.

There were media reports of Gandhi meeting DMK President M. Karunanidhi and a key Congress ally after a weeklong political fight between Congress and the opposition parties, over scams in Commonwealth Games, 2G spectrum allocation, defence housing and others.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India in a report held Raja responsible for causing losses estimated at a whopping Rs 1.76 trillion to the exchequer in 2G telecom spectrum allotments to favoured operators without any auction bids.

Raja is presently under the scanner by the Central Bureau of Investigation, and his aides have been questioned. Sleuths have also conducted raids on his properties. (ANI)