Calling more witnesses on 2G scam: DMK-Chacko tussle escalates

The tussle between DMK and Joint Parliamentary Committee chief P C Chacko over calling more witnesses and documents before the panel adopts its controversial report on 2G scam has escalated.

Despite Chacko rejecting DMK member T R Baalu's demand to call for more documents and officials before adopting the report, the latter has once again written to the Joint Parliamentary Committee chief asking him not to do so before looking at fresh documents.

In a strongly-worded letter, Baalu rejected Chacko's stand that the documents mentioned by him in a previous letter were already with the panel.
Baalu said the documents mentioned by him are with courts and they cannot be with the JPC.

He also reiterated his demand to call former Telecom Minister A Raja as a witness.
DMK is the erstwhile partner of UPA and Raja was a Cabinet minister from DMK's quota in UPA. He has also demanded that the communication between the DoT and the CAG should also be called for examination.

Baalu said the officials which helped settle the various affidavits should also be summoned before the 30-member panel.

The JPC is meeting on Friday to adopt the draft report circulated in April which gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, but had indicted Raja for the 2G scam.

Battle lines have been drawn for the meeting as BJP and Left members are all set to oppose the draft report by either giving strong notes of dissent or even demanding a vote.