Contrived majority used for report: BJP

With the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) controversial draft report on 2G spectrum scam getting adopted by an “overwhelming majority” on Friday, the Opposition blamed the government for “unashamedly” using the “contrived majority” to adopt the report which has given a clean chit to the Prime Minister and finance minister P. Chidambaram. The report accused former communications minister and DMK leader A. Raja of misleading the PM on the issue. The report was adopted after 16 members — Congress (11), NCP (1), SP (1), BSP (2) and one nominated member of the Rajya Sabha — voted in favour of it and 11 members — BJP’s 5 and one each of BJD, TMC, CPI, CPI(M), AIADMK and DMK — voting against it. Panel chief P.C. Chacko also voted as a Congress member. Three members — JDU’s 2 and one BJP — remained absent. After the report was adopted, the Opposition alleged that the report was based on “wrong facts, falsehood and prejudicial” findings without the consideration of the Committee. NCP member Y.P. Trivedi, who was not present when votes were being cast, later gave the panel chairman a written statement supporting the draft report. The report was circulated among members in April. After the meeting, Mr Chacko said the report was adopted by an “overwhelming majority” and the government will be asked to table an action-taken report on the JPC findings within three months of its presentation to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. In a meeting, which lasted a little over one hour, Mr Chacko overruled Opposition members’ demand to adopt the report after “more consultations”. Those who pressed for more discussions included DMK’s T.R. Baalu, CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta and BJP’s Yashwant Sinha. Mr Chacko said those members who want to give dissent notes on the report, which rubbished the loss figure of '1.76 lakh crores estimated by the CAG and termed it as “ill conceived”, can do it till October 10. He said after going through the dissent notes, he will submit the report to the Speaker by October-end as Parliament will not be in session then. The report will be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament. Replying to questions, Mr Chacko rejected suggestions that he personally canvassed with members from other political parties to support the draft report.