The government also ruled out truncating the Winter Session as Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said efforts are being made to end the impasse although he did not know how it can be done.
At a meeting of leaders of political parties with Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamid Ansari this morning, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal asserted that government would not agree to JPC and the Opposition would have to settle for examination of CAG report on 2G spectrum allocation by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, sources said.
BJP leader S S Ahluwalia argued that PAC could not summon a minister and it could be done only by a JPC. At this, Bansal said if the Opposition had no faith in the government and PAC examining the 2G issue, it could move a 'No-Confidence Motion', they said.
Later speaking to reporters, Bansal said the government had firmly rejected the demand for JPC and told the Opposition that if their only objective was to summon the Prime Minister and some ministers, that was not acceptable.
"Today I told the Opposition that if that is your objective (summoning the PM and ministers) that is not acceptable. If you have the courage and conviction, come and discuss the issue in the House," he said.
Asked what the government would do if Opposition moves a no-confidence motion, Bansal said "if such a thing happens, we cannot stop it. But the Opposition will get a beating. The government is in power till it has majority. People will also understand that it is the opposition that is not allowing the House to function."
Mukherjee, after a meeting with CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury on the deadlock, told reporters that efforts are being made to end the impasse.
"We have not yet been able to find a solution. I do not know how to resolve this impasse. We are trying. Let us see," Mukherjee, who is also Leader of the Lok Sabha, said.