Parliament set for 2G storm over NDA govt’s role

Stung by the CBI allegation that 2G spectrum allocation norms were violated during the NDA government’s tenure, the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) appear all set raise the issue in the Parliament on Friday.

The party while stressing that it had no issues with any investigations into the matter wondered why the probe agency had not found any evidence against UPA leaders Dayanidhi Maran and P Chidambaram in the issue.

The CBI had yesterday informed the Supreme Court in the 2G case hearing that it has found violation of norms by Arun Shourie and Pramod Mahajan, who were Telecom Ministers in the NDA government, and maintained that the role of then Finance Minister Jaswant Singh also needs to be examined.

"As far as BJP is concerned we are very clear that any investigation can be done during NDA regime as far as telecom allocation is concerned. We have ourselves said in Parliament that the 2G case can be investigated from 1998 itselfs. We are proud of the expansion of mobile and telephone connectivity during our regime and we have nothing to hide," BJP Chief spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

However, he insisted that the role of UPA government, especially that of then Finance Minister P Chidambaram, former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and officials in the PMO should also be probed.

PM's offer: ready to debate all versions of Lokpal Bill

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has offered a new formula to end the Lokpal deadlock with Team Anna.

Replying to the debate on corruption in Lok Sabha, Prime Minister said the government is ready to debate all versions of the Lokpal Bill in circulation at present.

The PM said the aim was to give the country a strong Lokpal and for that the government was ready to involve all sections in discussions.

The PM said along with the Jan Lokpal Bill the bills prepared by Aruna Roy's NCPRI and Jaiprakash Narain (of Hyderabad) will also be debated by the Parliament.

After the debate, the strongest points of all the bills could be forwarded to the standing committee for its consideration.

The PM said he hadn't given full thought to the feasibility of his proposal but urged the Speaker and the MPs to give it thought and decide if this could be a via media for reaching a solution with Anna and his team.

Manmohan Singh once again reached out to Anna Hazare and urged him to end his fast immediately.

Heaping praise on Anna Hazare, Manmohan Singh said, "I respect his idealism, I applaud him and I salute him."

Urging Anna Hazare to end his fast he said that Hazare had made his point and his life was precious and valuable for the nation.

The PM's appeal was seconded by the leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj, who also appealed to Hazare to end his fast and assured him that the opposition would ensure that the govt passed a strong Lokpal Bill.

The Lok Sabha passed a resolution urging Hazare to end the fast and later the Speaker made an appeal to this effect on behalf of the House.

Earlier, the PM accused the opposition of making personal attacks on him on the issue of corruption.

He said he was ready for a probe by the leader of the Opposition into his assets to see if he had benefited from corruption in his personal life

Justice Sen claims innocence at impeachment proceedings

Impeachment proceedings against Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta high court began in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, the first-ever in the Upper House and second in Parliament history.

Justice Sen, who presented his case personally, is facing impeachment on two grounds of misconduct and the motions against him are of misappropriation of large sums of money, which he allegedly received in his capacity as receiver appointed by the high court, besides misrepresentation of facts. Defending himself, Justice Sen said he was being victimised and charges of misappropriation of funds were a “pre-determined” move. He contended that the case against him was based on former Chief Justice of India(CJI) Justice K.G. Balakrishanan’s letter to the Prime Minister in this regard. “Balakrishnan thought a deeper probe was necessary, though there were no allegations,” said Justice Sen.

“I am the sacrificial lamb here...real issue has been swept under the carpet,” said Justice Sen.
Appearing before a ‘bar’ “posted” at the gate of the central aisle of the Upper House facing the Chairman Hamid Ansari after CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury moved the motions against him, Justice Sen said “I have exhausted my remedies in accordance with law. I have come here to seek justice. If you impeach me, it will be the gravest of injustice done ever. Kindly apply your mind before deciding on the judgement, as it is a question of my life.”

Supporting the motions, leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said “A judge has to lead by example and a judge cannot rely on technicalities and try to escape the rigours of law.” He also said that litigants cannot be judged by a judge, who himself is “stigmatised.”