2G case: JPC report giving clean chit to PM, FM adopted

NEW DELHI: The Joint Parliamentary Committee has adopted the contentious draft report which indicts former telecom minister A Raja for the 2G scam while giving the prime minister and the finance minister clean chits. The 30-member JPC on Friday adopted the draft report through voting — 16 for and 11 against. The report also rejected the presumptive method auditor adopted in calculating the volume of 2G scam.

Congress rallied the support of NCP, BSP, SP and a nominated MP and ensured two JD(U) MPs too tactically abstained from the meeting. BJP’s Gopinath Munde too did not attend the meeting, reportedly due to health reasons.

Members of BJP, AIADMK, DMK, BJD, CPM, CPI and Trinamool voted against the report. The chairman called for voting by rejecting the Opposition demand for more sitting.

CPM’s Sitaram Yechury, AIADMK’s Thambi Durai and CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta have already given dissenting notes.

More are expected by 10, October the deadline for doing so. CPI’s Gurudas Dasgupta has written to Chairman PC Chacko, alleging that the JPC proceedings were conducted in “politically biased manner”, to produce a “despicable document,” to “project A Raja as the only villain,” while shielding the PM and other ministers.

Chacko said the report itself will speak for facts and will reply to all the charges. The Chairman will formally submit the report to the Speaker next month.