JOIN USFriday’s JPC meeting on 2G spectrum is likely to witness high drama with the DMK putting the Congress on the tenterhooks by questioning the move to bail out Prime Minister Manmohan Singh from the controversial telecom licence allotment procedure.
DMK leader T R Baalu had written to JPC chairman PC Chacko on September 13 seeking access to documents that was relied on by the UPA to defend itself in the 2G scam. On Monday, Chacko wrote back denying Baalu’s request on the grounds that the document did not “reveal any new material fact”.
The DMK Lok Sabha MP fired another terse reply on the same day, saying how Chacko could have perused the so-called documents even before he had ask for them and stated that the manner in which the JPC is “rushing through” with the proceedings does not inspire confidence.
“I am surprised by your statement that you have ‘gone through’ all the documents referred to in my letter. This is because you never asked me for copies of the documents. The original files containing these documents were never before the JPC –in fact they are in the custody of the CBI special court. May I request you to kindly disclose the source from which you were able to obtain copies of the documents? It is somewhat disturbing that the chairman of the JPC is getting documents – from undisclosed sources – that are not being shared with other members of the committee,” Baalu wrote.
The Parliamentary panel has already prepared the draft report, which has been a bone of contention among the opposition members. They had earlier given a letter stating they had lost faith in Chacko due to his alleged partial manner of functioning.
Calling Chacko’s rejection of his contentions incorrect, Baalu identified four ‘contradictions’ in the draft report.