PM should clarify spectrum irregularities: CPI(M)

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should give a clarification on the spectrum allocation irregularities in Parliament and also constitute a JPC to inquire into the scam, the CPI(M) said today.

"Parliament should be the forum where the Prime Minister should give his explanation," senior party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here.

His statement came on a day when government filed an affidavit on behalf of the Prime Minister in Supreme Court rejecting charges of inaction by PMO in dealing with the request of sanction for prosecution of former Telecom Minister A Raja in the 2G spectrum issue.
   
"According to the constitutional scheme of things, it is the legislature which has to keep a vigil on the executive. And, therefore, this responsibility of legislature must be exercised", Yechury said, indicating that the affidavit filed in the apex court would not suffice.
   
Observing that Parliament "needs to function" for Singh to give a statement, he said, "What we are saying very clearly is that given the gravity of this scam, given the fact that it has been going on for last three years, given the huge massive amount that is involved, let a JPC be constituted. Let the Parliament run. Let the Prime Minister give his explanation. That is the best way to resolve this issue".
   
Welcoming Singh's statement that the guilty would be punished, Yechury said only a JPC probe could correct the weaknesses in the system and recommend a regulator framework.
   
"A JPC's role is not only to find out the culprit, its job is also to identify how the system has been manipulated, what are the weakness in it which have to be corrected. It would also recommend a regulatory framework. This job can only be done by a JPC," he said.
   
The Marxist leader said it was "beyond my comprehension" as to why the Congress-led UPA was "hesitating" to have a JPC probe into the scam.
   
"The ruling alliance will lead the JPC. The ruling alliance will have a majority of members in the JPC. Why this hesitation, I don't understand," he said.
   
"I think the Prime Minister is keeping up the tradition that no JPC in our country's history has been announced promptly. It took a lot of Parliament disruption, a lot of time before a JPC was announced. So, I think they don't want to break that tradition," Yechury said.
        
His senior party colleague Basudeb Acharia also targeted the government for "creating a situation so that Parliament does not run" by not accepting the Opposition demand for a JPC probe. "Why is the Prime Minister keeping mum on the JPC issue," he asked.