Sonia rejects demand for JPC probe in 2G scam

Congress President Sonia Gandhi today rejected the demand for a JPC into the 2G spectrum scam and hit out at the opposition, saying that the country will not forget and forgive them for the wastage of an entire session of Parliament.

In her address to the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) general body meeting here, she slammed the BJP over the issue of corruption while referring to the Karnataka developments and the circumstances in which Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa was allowed to continue despite the charges of corruption in land allotment.

Turning down the Opposition demand for a JPC into the 2G spectrum issue, Gandhi said where was the need for a JPC when PAC and CBI were looking into it besides the Supreme Court monitoring it and a retired apex court judge inquiring into the matter, according to party MPs who attended the meeting.

Later, briefing the reporters, party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said that the Congress President maintained that it is a painful truth that corruption exists, and that it should be looked into how the Government and the political parties take action in the matter after cases have surfaced.

On opposition now allowing Parliament to function, Gandhi said, "That's their choice".

She said that Congress has shown great consistency in taking action against corruption as also against ministers even without a "concrete legal conviction".

"In contrast, the BJP not only in Karnataka but right from Tehelka, right from so many other scams during the NDA has consistently overlooked, brushed aside or supported the situation of corruption.

"They have reinstated persons while inquiries were going on," he said quoting Gandhi and added issues in Karnataka were brazenly overlooked.

Gandhi, while congratulating Manmohan Singh for nine per cent GDP growth in the country, also underlined the party's principle to achieve "inclusive growth" and not forget the "aam aadami".