The Bhartiya Janata Party has made it clear that unless the UPA government agreed to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the 2G scam, the party would not allow the Parliament to function.
Addressing a maharally in Kanpur on Saturday, former BJP president Rajnath Singh said, “Huge sum of money had gone into the scam and ministers and officers were solely responsible for the loot. If this money had gone into the state exchequer, it could have been used for the welfare of the people, including farmers. The UPA government can blame us for wasting public money by stalling the Parliament but we are determined to make the government accountable for public money lost in the scam.”
The BJP’ maharally lost much of its sheen on Saturday when the plane carrying its senior leaders, including L.K. Advani, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav and Akali Dal leaders, could not land in Kanpur due to poor visibility. The plane was diverted to Lucknow instead where Mr Advani told reporters that the Centre’s silence on black money was questionable while Mr Sharad Yadav reiterated that the Opposition would not compromise on its demand for a JPC on the 2G scam issue.
Meanwhile, Mr Rajnath Singh mounted a blistering attack on the BSP and SP in UP and said that though both claimed that they were opposing the policies of the Congress, the truth was that both the parties were supporting the UPA government. He said both the parties had retraced their steps for a JPC probe after investigations in the disproportionate assets case against their leaders were pushed up.