Called to heel

The 2G licensing controversy is generating considerable angst within the Congress party. Just weeks after the Chidambaram-Pranab face-off came an intra-party spat at a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC). This time it involved MP Sanjay Nirupam, who was snubbed by party senior leader Saifuddin Soz. At the meeting, Nirupam was insistent that PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi summon Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG) Vinod Rai, apparently unaware that the CAG cannot be summoned under parliamentary rules. Although Biju Janata Dal member Bhartruhari Mahtab tried to explain this, Nirupam didn’t relent. After 45 minutes of listening to Nirupam shouting, Soz finally stepped in and sharply instructed his colleague to sit down and let the PAC proceedings continue.