Govt agrees to Supreme Court-monitored probe in 2G spectrum scam

To blunt the opposition, which continued to stall parliament for the third successive week demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum scam, the government took three major steps on Monday.

It issued notices to cancel 85 licences of telecom companies, tried to woo estranged allies such as Trinamool Congress, DMK and NCP and agreed to a Supreme Court-monitored probe into the scam.

Finance minister Pranab Mukherjee invited UPA allies and “shared” seriousness of the situation at a two-hour meeting, after which agriculture minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar said UPA constituents had decided on a “collective approach” to the issue. National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah said, “We will remain united in our stand against JPC.”

As if this was not enough, the government tried to soothe the corporate world by ordering a high-level inquiry into the leakage of the Nira Radia tapes — conversations between the corporate lobbyist, her clients and certain journalists. Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata Group of companies, has filed a petition in the Supreme Court (SC) saying release of the tapes in the media was violation of the fundamental right to privacy.

Home ministry sources said the probe would be conducted by Intelligence Bureau and Central Board of Direct Taxes.
The government action came after sustained pressure by the opposition, SC’s reprimand and the comptroller and auditor general’s report on the Rs1.76 lakh-crore 2G scam.

Meanwhile, the Centre also launched an offensive, with telecom, HRD and science and technology minister Kapil Sibal saying, “We will show the opposition its face if they allow a debate on 2G”. He was hinting at the various policy changes that were made and violations allowed in the telecom sector in the NDA regime.

Sources said the government was opposing a JPC probe not because prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi may be summoned for “assistance”, but because the Radia tapes could become a huge embarrassment for politicians.