2G scam: Opposition slams leakage of draft JPC report, calls it prejudged

NEW DELHI: Slamming the leakage of the draft JPC report on 2G scam as a "gross breach of Parliamentary propriety", major Opposition parties on Friday said its contents appeared like Congress documents where attempts have been made to save its leaders including the Prime Minister.

"The media showed the JPC draft report on 2G scam extensively. This is a gross breach of Parliamentary propriety where any report draft is debated, discussed, amendments are moved in the formal meeting and thereafter views are taken," BJP spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters here.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) declined to accept the JPC report and termed it as "prejudged and prejudiced".

"The report is not acceptable to us. It is prejudged and prejudiced, covering facts and trying to save a few people and blaming one individual," said CPI leader D Raja.

"The draft report looks like a Congress document and not a JPC report in which there is an overpowering desire to save its leaders including the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister in the 2G scam and yet to objectively consider the wider ramification of this massive scam which shamed the country," Prasad said.

Reacting to the draft JPC report which gives a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2G spectrum allocation saying that he was "misled" by the then Telecom Minister Raja, the DMK termed it as a "false accusation" against its leader.

"Without calling him (Raja), it is a false accusation... which has no meaning," party MP T K S Elangovan said.

Sticking to its demand that A Raja be allowed to depose before the JPC on 2G, the DMK said the panel's report will be a "waste" if he does not get an opportunity to give an explanation on the allegations.

The JPC has given a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2G spectrum allocation, saying he was "misled" by the then Telecom Minister A Raja whose assurances stood "belied".

The draft report of the JPC also rubbishes the loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore estimated by CAG, saying it was "ill-conceived".

The JPC report is due to be tabled in Parliament next week. The report states that a controversial press release issued in January 2008 on awarding new mobile permits was changed at the last minute by Raja.

The draft report further says it was a policy decision to give licences on a first-come-first-served basis and not to go for auction of the spectrum. In February 2012, the Supreme Court ruled that the first-come-first-served policy used by Raja to award mobile permits, which came bundled with airwaves, in 2008 was unconstitutional and directed the Centre to issue fresh licences and spectrum through an auction process.