NEWDELHI: The persistent demand of the NDA, Left and others for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam has clearly turned into a prestige issue between the UPA Government and the Opposition -- and whoever takes the first reconciliatory step would be seen as the loser in the battle of wits.
Hence, the ruling Congress’ dilemma over directly accepting the JPC demand, even as it knows that there’s nothing more to forfeit.
It has already lost a full session of Parliament to the Opposition, its former Telecom Minister Raja has been arrested, the Supreme Court is breathing down its neck and the CBI/ED is on hot-pursuit of anyone remotely connected with spectrum licencing.
Therefore, Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan, at pains on Friday to underline that the party has not gone back on its earlier stand on JPC, noted, “The suggestion that a resolution demanding a JPC probe be debated in Parliament has not been made by the Congress, we are just saying
that we are willing accept it.”
Some Congress leaders also indicated that there’s no way the party would vote in favour of a JPC - so it’s virtually one step forward and a half-backward.