Meira’s efforts to break logjam fails

NEW DELHI: The efforts of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar to break the gridlock in Parliament on Thursday failed to make any headway with the Congress and the BJP sticking to their known positions on forming a joint parliamentary panel to probe the 2G spectrum.

While the Congress reiterated that a scrutiny by the Public Accounts Committee was enough, the BJP made it clear that it will not go back on its demand for a JPC probe.

BJP leaders told reporters after the meeting that it was the government’s responsibility to run parliament. “The scandal will have to be probed by a JPC. The PAC does not have the mandate to undertake an extensive investigation,” BJP leaders said.

The speaker, who is meeting non-BJP opposition on Friday, said she was still hopeful of a resolution. “Both sides are very keen that the next session (of parliament) should run in order... With this kind of commitment and this kind of attitude, I am sure they will be able to find a common ground.”

The entire winter session of parliament was wasted following the Opposition-government stand-off. “It is a cause of concern for all of us and all this while I was worried,” Kumar said.