Hitting back at the BJP for demanding a joint parliamentary committee probe into the second-generation mobile telephony spectrum allocation, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today said it had no right to speak on the issue as Tehelka sting operation had earlier exposed its party president taking bribe on camera.
"People should not forget what we have seen in the earlier regime... what happened in Tehelka. How president of a national party was found taking money. It was on camera and if they talk of this corruption let them speak," Mukherjee told reporters outside Parliament House.
He was referring to a sting operation by Tehelka during the NDA regime when BJP President Bangaru Laxman was caught on camera taking bribe.
BJP-led NDA, the Left parties along with the rest of the Opposition, have stalled Parliament proceedings for 15 consecutive working days since November 10, demanding a JPC probe in the 2-G scam.
Mukherjee also accused the press of conducting a "trial by media" in the 2-G spectrum allocation case.
"We have started investigations into corruption from day one when the (VK Shunglu) Committee was appointed after the Commonwealth Games were over... immediately, as soon as the CAG report was available, the minister concerned has resigned. Whether he is corrupt or not is not yet established," Mukherjee said.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pawan Kumar Bansal also attacked the opposition for "persisting on its demand for JPC".
"There are 24 political parties in Parliament but in a JPC only 7 are represented. Do they want other parties not to be represented. We want a discussion on the 2G issue in Parliament and don't mind if the discussion goes for even four days," Bansal told reporters outside Parliament.
He said two Congress members have already given notice in Lok Sabha under rule 193 to have a discussion on the issue.
"By persisting on its demand for JPC, the opposition is politicising the issue and trying to mislead people," Bansal said.
