Chacko 'welcomes' privilege motion against him

Says former Prime Minister Vajpayee not named in report, Opposition can give dissenting notes

P C Chacko, chairperson of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probing the 2G spectrum allocation case, on Tuesday rubbished the BJP allegation the draft JPC report was a “Congress report”. He also rejected BJP’s demand for a new draft of the report.

Chacko said, “Going by the previous five JPC reports, all those who have dissenting views with the report could submit dissenting notes. There is no need for any changes or amendments.”

Speaking to reporters, Chacko said he “welcomes” the privilege motion moved against him by the BJP and the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam, saying the leaking the report is a serious matter and needs to be probed.

He maintained he had not named former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee in the report.

Rejecting BJP’s charges that Vajpayee’s name had been maligned by being mentioned in the report, Chacko argued the terms of reference of the Committee extend for a period from 1998 to 2004, covering the BJP era. “The BJP was well aware of that and should have opposed it then itself,” he said, adding, “We have the highest regard for Atal Bihari Vajpayee.”

As for former Telecom minister A Raja not being given the opportunity to be heard, Chacko said, “I have personally heard out A Raja and explained to him that proprietary demands that if he was summoned, all previous Telecom ministers would also have to be called.” Chacko added that as a special concession, “Raja was asked to make his submission in writing and he did – a 16 page note. If he was not agreeable to it, he would not have done so.”

Only yesterday did Raja submit a 102-page letter to Chacko, the contents of which the JPC chairman says was already lying with the committee.

Rejecting suggestions the United Progressive Alliance was in a “minority” in the committee, Chacko said, “It’s not a question of majority or minority numbers. It’s a parliamentary committee. This is the fifth JPC and all have adopted the report with dissenting notes in the past.”

Chacko also refuted the Opposition demand for a new draft, saying that what the BJP wanted was not a new draft, but a new committee itself that was amenable to them.

“Nobody in the JPC can accuse me of any wrongdoing. The committee had authorised me to make the draft,” said Chacko. The JPC is slated to meet on April 25 to discuss and adopt the report.

Parliament witnessed noisy scenes for a second day on Tuesday with the Opposition taking the government to task over a range of issues from JPC to coalgate