Kolkata: Union Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee on Saturday ruled out a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) investigation into alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum
allocation, but appealed to the Opposition to let Parliament
function smoothly.
"What is JPC? Is it coming from the heaven? I do not
find any logic or justification of setting up of a JPC," he
told reporters here.
"They should come back in the session. They should
bring back normalcy. They should co-operate. We are always
ready to listen to them.
"If you (the Opposition) say there is no investigative
authority of the PAC, which JPC may claim... If PAC desires, we
can give them the assistance of a multi-disciplinary
investigative agency," Mukherjee said.
"JPC itself will not investigate. What JPC will do?
JPC will examine the papers or witnesses, take evidences and
arrive at a conclusion. Then they will say this is our report,
this is our conclusion. The government should investigate and
punish the guilty.
"Government is exactly doing this. The CBI, Income Tax
Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the process of
investigation already started from 2009. An FIR was lodged in
October 2009. What would they achieve through JPC?" he asked.
Mukherjee, who had offered a special Parliament
session to debate the scam, said, "I suggested to them that
let there be a debate, then people will come to know and they
will arrive at a decision."
PTI
