PM says he is worried about future of Parliamentary system

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said he is "worried" about the future of the Parliamentary system in the wake of a complete washout of the winter session of Parliament on the 2G spectrum issue.

Expressing the hope that reason will prevail over Opposition, he said the Government has repeatedly told them that existing mechanisms can do what a Joint Parliamentary Committee can do.

"I am worried about the future of the Parliamentary system. I hope reason will prevail (over Opposition)," Singh told reporters here.

He was responding to a question about Opposition parties indicating that they will persist with their demand for constituting a JPC to probe the 2G spectrum allocation during the Budget Session early next year threatening further stalling.

"I am sad that Parliament was not allowed to function. We told the Opposition repeatedly that existing mechanisms can do what a JPC can do," he said when asked about the deadlock in Parliament since November 10 a day after the Winter Session began.

About Opposition criticism that he was abroad when so many important issues had to be dealt with urgently at home, Singh said: "These are all pre-fixed appointments. If we don't keep it who will take us seriously? Anyway not much is happening (in Parliament)."

The Opposition has been accusing the Prime Minister of remaining silent with senior BJP leader Arun Jaitely saying he should not be seen losing his "will to rule".

The BJP and other Opposition parties have been unrelenting in their demand for a JPC, but the Government has refused to accept it.