Pandemonium in RS over tabling of JPC report on 2G scam

Pandemonium was witnessed in the Rajya Sabha today as the JPC report on 2G spectrum scam was tabled, with Opposition alleging that the "substance" of the dissent notes had been altered in the document which gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The controversial report was tabled by Congress member Ananda Bhaskar Rapolu after Deputy Chairman P J Kurien ruled that the Terms of Reference contained in the motion of the JPC had no provision which permits a discussion on its report adopted duly by the committee.

Members of BJP, Left, TMC and other parties vociferously opposed the tabling of the report.

Deputy Leader of BJP Ravishankar Prasad, who was a member of the 30-member JPC, raised a point of order to allege that his dissent note had been altered and wondered whether the matter should not be debated in the House.

Quoting a rule from Article 105 of the Constitution, he said he had the right to administer a note of dissent as a member of the panel.

"I had given a strong dissent note...The guilty have been left...The report should not be tabled," Prasad said.

Strongly backing his colleague on the issue, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said he invites a ruling from the Chair whether the Chairman of a Parliamentary panel can delete only some unparliamentary words or "can alter the substance of the dissent note given by a member."

"Substance of the dissent note given by members of the House has been altered by the Chairman. Please give us a ruling. Whether it is permissible," he said.

The Chair, however, allowed laying of the report saying a discussion on the issue cannot be allowed.

Kurien said that while the Leader of the Opposition has raised a "valid point", the Chair is unable to make any comment as it has not seen or read the report.

As BJP members trooped into the Well raising slogans of "Shame, Shame," Kurien adjourned the House till 2 PM.