Joshi says PAC will decide on PM’s offer

NEW DELHI - Bharatiya Janata Party leader Murli Manohar Joshi, who chairs parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Monday said the panel will soon take a decision on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s offer to appear before it.

The PAC has got a letter from the prime minister in which he has repeated his offer of appearing before the PAC if it wanted. His office has submitted documents which were asked for, Joshi told reporters.

“An appropriate decision will be taken at an appropriate time, Joshi said of the prime minister’s offer, adding: We will study it deeply and decide on the future course of action.

Following on his assurance at the Congress plenary a week ago, Manmohan Singh wrote a letter to Joshi and reiterated that although there was no precedent for a prime minister appearing before a PAC, he was ready to do so.

To the best of my knowledge, the PAC takes evidence from the secretaries of the departments concerned or the heads of departments or the public sector undertakings, Manmohan Singh wrote in his letter to Joshi.

However, in view of the recent propaganda that the prime minister is unwilling yo be questioned by a parliamentary committee, I would like to inform you that I am willing to appear before the PAC should the committee choose to seek clarifications from the prime minister, though I believe there is no precedent of the prime minister appearing before a PAC, Manmohan Singh wrote.