PAC meeting on 2G deferred amid sharp differences

NEW DELHI: The 2-G controversy rocked Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting here on Monday with opposition parties demanding that former DG (Audit) R P Singh be summoned and asked why he differs with CAG on the quantum of loss while Congress members opposed the move.

With differences persisting, the meeting was adjourned. The meeting scheduled for tomorrow has also been postponed reportedly on as Chhath festival falls tomorrow.

Sources said the BJP and other opposition parties insisted that Singh should be summoned as he has differed with the figures of loss incurred by the government in the 2-G scam. Singh, who has now retired, has stated that the loss is merely of Rs 6,000 Crore while the CAG had maintained that it was to the tune of Rs 1.76 Lakh Crore.

Prakash Javadekar (BJP) demanded that not only Singh but others like Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal- who said there was zero loss- among others, should be summoned by the PAC and asked how they had arrived at figures different from that of the CAG. AIADMK member M Thambidurai insisted that the CBI director should also be called as the agency had arrived at a different loss figure.

BJP, BJD, SAD and AIDMK referred to the letter written by Congress member Sanjay Nirupam asking that the 2-G issue be discussed and said the questions which have not been addressed should be gone into.