2G spectrum scam: BJP ends JPC boycott, but repeats 'call PM Manmohan Singh' demand

NEW DELHI: BJP on Thursday ended its boycott of the joint parliamentary committee, only to reiterate its demand for summoning Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and finance minister P Chidambaram as witnesses. The main Opposition's representatives repeated their demand as soon as the proceedings began, a person privy to the details told ET.

BJP's demands are based on the deposition of former cabinet secretary KM Chandrasekhar before JPC. In his deposition last month he had said that he had written to the prime minister in 2007, suggesting an increase in the licence fee for 2G spectrum so that the government could earn 35,000 crore. However, he added that he did not think there was any revenue abandonment by the government in taking the policy decision and added that the PM took views from ministries and departments and the decision was taken in totality and not just on the basis of revenue maximisation.

JPC will hold a special meeting to discuss the list of witnesses. The special meeting, likely to be held in December, is also expected to take a decision on whether to call as witnesses other former finance ministers, Yashwant Sinha and Jaswant Singh - both of whom are JPC members.

BJP members and CPI's Gurudas Dasgupta questioned Chacko's decision to issue a 'denial' to a report on Chandrasekhar's deposition, alleging it was done as it concerned the PM. BJP MPs said that such a denial was not issued when Chacko earlier claimed misreporting on he having reservations about Sinha and Singh being JPC members.

Representatives of a GSM operators' body were examined at Thursday's meeting and a MP said their replies were 'inconsistent' and that they would be called again.