Members want PAC to take up Agusta report, no decision yet

A meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday saw members demand taking up of the CAG report on the AgustaWestland chopper deal, but no decision was taken.

A committee member told IANS it was decided that a Comptroller and Auditor General report on Public Private Partnerships and one on Food Security Act would be taken up.

"Members recommended taking up the report on AgustaWestland. The chairman has said he will go through the suggestions, but no decision was taken," a committee member told IANS on condition of anonymity.

The proposal was made at the meeting by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Goel, and backed by Biju Janata Dal member Bhartruhari Mahtab, sources said.

However, Trinamool Congress leader Sukhendu Sekhar Roy pointed out that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) Shashi Kant Sharma is a former defence secretary and questioned if it will result in a conflict of interest.

Sharma was the defence secretary from July 2011 to May 2013.

Another member told IANS that a call on whether there is a conflict of interest will be taken later.

--IANS

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