PAC 'not likely' to summon Modi on demonetisation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may not be summoned by the Public Accounts Committee on the issue of demonetisation as "there is no such precedent", said the key parliamentary panel's chairman K.V. Thomas here on Monday.

On the issue of summoning Modi, Thomas told IANS that there is "no convention like that" and the committee would take decision "on what to do" after hearing from Reserve Bank of India Governor Urjit Patel and other government officials, to whom it has sent a detailed questionnaire.

"The committee will decide on what to do after hearing from them," Thomas said, adding that they are expected to give their answers before January 20.

Thomas, however, also said, "There is nothing against calling Prime Minister (to explain) but there is no precedent (on this)."

"The committee will take a decision on the issue. It will prepare a report on the impact of demonetisation and submit it to Parliament," Thomas told IANS.

The PAC Chairman has been quoted in media reports as saying that if the PAC is not satisfied with the answers from the RBI Governor and others, it would summon Modi to explain the decision of demonetisation.

--IANS

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