An all party meeting held in the capital over opposition’s demand for a JPC probe into the allocation of 2G spectrum failed to end the stalemate, the meeting was attended by representative of all the parties, however another such meeting is likely on Thursday.

The meeting held over lunch was convened by Union Finance Minister and Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee to find some way to allow the House to proceed with its business.

However, another such meeting is likely on Thursday.

The meeting was attended by representative of all the parties. Both the Houses have been facing disruptions by the Opposition since the Winter session of Parliament began on 9th November.

Parliament stalled for fourth day

The logjam over opposition demand for JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam stalled proceedings in both Houses of Parliament for the fourth day on Tuesday.

A united opposition led by BJP and supported by AIADMK, TDP, SP, JD-U and Shiv Sena remained adamant on the demand for a Parliamentary probe into irregularities in spectrum allocation as pointed out in the CAG report placed in both Houses.

The CAG indicted former Telecom Minister A Raja of DMK stating that he ignored the advice of the Prime Minister, Finance Minister and the Law Minister on the allocation of frequency for mobile telephones causing a huge loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the exchequer.

The trouble began soon after both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha assembled for the day to take up Question Hour. An unrelenting opposition was not ready for anything less than the joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the scam.

The opposition members trooped into the well and resorted to slogan shouting.

Congress members hit back and tried to raise the issue of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa’s alleged involvement in allocation of industrial land to his sons.

Amid uproar, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day at noon after an earlier adjournment during Question Hour, while Rajya Sabha could not function till 2 PM.

The same scenario prevailed in the Upper House when it met at 2 PM and the Presiding Officer P J Kurien was forced to adjourn the proceedings till Thursday, as Wednesday being a holiday on account of Eid.

Leader of the Lok Sabha Pranab Mukherjee met leaders of political parties in an effort to end the logjam which has stalled the proceedings.

The highlight of the day even in the midst of din was the tabling of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India’s report on irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation, which created a political storm leading to the resignation of Raja.

The 77-page report was tabled in the Lower House by Minister of State for Finance S S Palanimanickam, who belongs to Raja’s party DMK, and in the Upper House by his ministerial colleague Namo Narayan Meena.

The government has rejected as “meaningless” the demand for setting up of a JPC.