The Congress party on Friday questioned the CAG’s stand that members of Parliament cannot comment on its report on the 2G scam and wondered how its findings were leaked even before they were tabled in Parliament.
Endorsing telecom minister Kapil Sibal’s criticism of the report, it also asked why there was no reaction from the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office when the Opposition leaders were commenting on its report.
The party does not criticise any constitutional body as a matter of policy but on Friday it not only attacked the CAG but also asked how its report on the 2G spectrum scam got leaked before it was placed in Parliament.
At her AICC media briefing, Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan referred to portions of the CAG’s press release on Wednesday and wondered whether there was any ruling prohibiting MPs from commenting on matters lying before a Parliamentary Committee.
She also took exception to the CAG release counselling restraint on the part of MPs while commenting on its 2G spectrum report on the ground that it could be “improper” and could amount to contempt of the Parliament.
“We are somewhat surprised and a little distressed because this seems to contain a suggestion that MPs do not have a right to speak on any issues when CAG report is being examined by a parliamentary committee. It was a very strong suggestion.”
She said that as far she knew there was “no such rule which prohibited an MP from speaking on an issue which is being considered by a committee”.
Ms Natarjan said that as an MP she would take a serious note of the CAG’s statement as the it concerned her right to speak and also because the advice comes “from a body, which is not a part of legislative structure”.
She also asked why no such reaction came from the auditor when the report was being reacted upon by everybody including leaders from the Opposition parties.
“Whether the suggestion is confined to criticism of the report,” she asked, adding no press release was issued when there was a stream of comments from the Leaders of the Opposition.
Ms Natarajan, however, parried a question about the CAG’s silence when the BJP was commenting on the report.
“I am not pointing out any thing ... There should be one standard ... There can be only one stand and there should be one stand ... The suggestion that only a particular aspect would be improper was very surprising,” she said.