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New Delhi, April 23: The government appears to be “open” to the Opposition’s demand to constitute a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) to probe the IPL controversy but will take a decision on it only after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s consultations with his Cabinet colleagues. This was

indicated after a Congress party core group meeting here on Friday evening. The government has not yet rejected the Opposition’s demand to constitute a JPC probe.
The core group, consisting of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, defence minister A.K. Antony, home minister P. Chidambaram and the Congress president’s political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel, met at Parliament House to take stock of the situation in the wake of the Opposition’s unity in Parliament on this issue.
In the meeting, Mr Mukherjee briefed Dr Singh about the Opposition’s JPC demand. “Now the PM will have to discuss this issue in the Cabinet. Only after that will a decision on whether or not to constitute a JPC be taken,” well placed sources said.
They also said the resignation of more ministers in the IPL controversy might be possible, but only on the basis of “hard” evidence  (in the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate).
Earlier on Friday, in the Lok Sabha, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee said, “It (decision on a JPC) is to be taken after due diligence and consideration. It cannot be like instant coffee or instant consideration.” Observing that the government would have to ponder the demand, he said, “I will communicate your sentiments to the Prime Minister. As and when the government takes a decision, we will come to Parliament. Let us wait for some time.”
But a division in the main Opposition BJP on this issue came to the fore. While the party demanded a JPC probe, some of its leaders demanded the resignation of Union ministers Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel (both of the NCP) over the issue. However, the party restrained itself on the resignation issue, saying “clinching evidence” is required before seeking the ouster of any minister.
Former Union minister Yashwant Sinha demanded that Mr Pawar and Mr Patel step down. On being repeatedly asked if the BJP felt both UPA ministers should resign, its deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha, Mr S.S. Ahluwalia, did not take their names but said, “We need clinching evidence” before demanding that ministers resign.
Mr Ahluwalia said the allegations against Mr Pawar and Mr Patel were different from those levelled against former Union minister Shashi Tharoor, claiming his involvement with the IPL when he was minister of state for external affairs was “crystal clear”. He said if there is a prima facie case against the ministers, his party would demand their resignations.
A refusal to constitute a JPC could consolidate the Opposition further, but if the government agrees, it would embarrass the NCP, especially its two heavyweight ministers — Mr Sharad Pawar and Mr Praful Patel.
If Mr Tharoor’s resignation from the Council of Ministers is the Opposition’s first victory in the IPL controversy, setting up of a JPC would obviously count as a major achievement for them as the UPA-II completes its first year in office in the next month.
Congress ministers and leaders are rejecting, privately, the Opposition’s JPC demand without explaining how they will openly stand with Mr Pawar and Mr Patel on the IPL controversy.
The NCP’s isolation in the UPA could lead to political realignments, both at the Centre and in Maharashtra. The SP, BSP and RJD cannot extend their support to the Centre for a full term. A SP leader said, “You should not be surprised if the Maharashtra government falls if Pawar-Patel are cornered. Mamata Banerjee is already unhappy with the Congress’ growing proximity with the Left in West Bengal.”
Mr Pawar, meanwhile, remains unfazed by the allegations against his family and Mr Praful Patel in the IPL issue, saying he is not worried as they had nothing to do with the sporting event. He was also unperturbed by the demands for a JPC probe. “Why should we worry? We have nothing to do (with it),” he shot back when reporters asked whether he was concerned about media reports naming his party and some leaders in connection with the IPL controversy. When it was pointed out that the Opposition was demanding a JPC probe, he said, “Let them do whatever they want to do.”
Parliament business was disrupted by Opposition leaders demanding that only a JPC probe would have credibility as there were allegations of involvement of two ministers in the controversy. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned after lunch without transacting any business with BJP members insisting on a JPC probe. In the Lok Sabha, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj raked up the issue saying it was getting “more serious by the day” and demanded a JPC probe to save the dignity of the House and to throw light on the matter.
Alleging that two ministers were under a cloud for “gross misuse of power”, Opposition members stalled proceedings, chanting slogans like “We want JPC” and “Daal me kala zaroor hai, aur kitne Tharoor hain (There is something fishy, how many more Tharoors are there)?”.
There are also allegations that a close relative of a senior minister, belonging to a UPA partner, had benefited. Ms Swaraj said reports had come out that the ministers had indulged in “gross misuse of power”, including diversion of a civilian aircraft for IPL players. “The whole issue should be probed. The Leader of the House had said they are ready to probe. We feel investigating agencies will not be able to bring the truth to the fore. From day one of the episode we have demanded that a JPC be constituted to look into this,” she said.
JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav supported the demand, saying the IPL should be answerable to Parliament and the whole country. Mr Yadav said sports minister M.S. Gill has been talking as though he was in the Opposition but nobody took note of it.
Alleging that “illegal money” from both Mauritius and Swiss banks had been invested in the IPL, the JD(U) member said it was a JPC probe was a must.
CPI(M) and CPI leaders also demanded a JPC probe.
In Jaipur, Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot stepped up his attack against Mr Lalit Modi, saying he acted as an “extra-constitutional power” when Ms Vasundhara Raje was CM and that he had “humiliated” IAS and IPS officers while taking advantage of his proximity to her.
He asked Ms Raje to clarify whether any state funds were pumped into the T-20 cricketing body and also clear the public perception about Mr Modi and her government’s functioning.
In  Lucknow, UP CM Mayawati has demanded that a JPC be set up immediately. In a statement issued here on Friday, she said ministers and other important persons, who are said to be allegedly involved in the IPL imbroglio, should be asked to resign without delay and pave the way for an impartial probe. “Before the Lok Sabha elections, the BSP had promised that if it came to power it would bring back black money deposited in foreign banks and the Congress and other parties had made similar promises. The time has come to thoroughly investigate the funding sources for IPL and bring the guilty to book,” Ms Mayawati said.

Age Correspondent