Logjam over JPC continues

As the government could not make any new offer on the form of inquiry at the lunch hosted by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, the leaders of different parties said they would continue disrupting the proceeding of both Houses until their demand  was met.   
Mukherjee told the leaders that he would hold talks with  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh  regarding the issue and get back to them on Thursday morning. Wednesday is a holiday for Parliament on the occasion of  Id.

The meeting was attended by several leaders, including Leaders of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Janata Dal (United), Shiv Sena and the Samajwadi Party wanted a JPC probe while parties such as the NCP and Biju Janata Dal were not in favour of that demand.

RLD chief Ajit Singh sought setting up an inquiry commission. Singh pointed out that  the Public Accounts Committee could do a great job in finding out the truth and a JPC probe will be out of place.

Mukherjee, who is the Leader of the Lok Sabha, convened the meeting as the Opposition remained belligerent on their demand and stalled both Houses of Parliament for more than three days.

Discussion in House

The Trinamool Congress, the second largest ally in the UPA, however, suggested a discussion in the House and said if a majority wanted a JPC probe, it should be considered. The DMK said it would go by the government’s decision.

Emerging out ot the meeting, Mukherjee said: “No solution on JPC.  We want the House to run. We do not want disruptions.”

CPI leader D Raja and CPM leader Sitaram Yechury said though they were willing to consider any other “credible form” of inquiry, they felt that the PAC would not serve the purpose. They asked the government to take an appropriate decision   to breake the impasse. BJP leader Arun Jaitley said: “Conflicting viewpoints were discussed in the meeting. We will meet again.”