Opposition parties on Monday slammed the Government and lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar for adopting a “fabricated” JPC report on 2G scam without debate. Chaos broke out when BJP, left, AIADMK and DMK MPs insisted on debate before adoption of the report tabled by JPC Chairman PC Chacko.
BJP leaders Murli Manohar Joshi and Yashwant Sinha, and CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta protested the Speaker's decision not to allow a debate. Joshi said this report was a manipulated and erroneous one to provide escape route to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the 2G scam.
“It was unprecedented. The manner in which the report was finalised was in violation of rules and norms of the House,” said Sinha, leading the agitation of BJP MPs in the lok Sabha. BJP and AIADMK MPs entered the Well of the House when the Speaker called for adoption of the report with voice vote. During the din, DMK MP Adishankar tore the report, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House till 2 pm. But before that she declared the report as adopted. Former Telecom Minister A Raja was seen shouting along with his DMK colleagues.
“This is a perverse report and fraud report and cannot be considered to be JPC report,” Dasgupta said outside Parliament along with Yashwant Sinha. Dasgupta said, “The report is a fraud as it does not take into account the role of Finance Minister and others. It has only found that one villain that is Raja.
The PM knew what is happening despite that JPC did not take it into account.” “It was unprecedented. The manner in which the report was finalised was in violation of rules and norms of the House,” said Sinha, expressing unhappiness over Speaker's conduct. He said the “Speaker did not allow us to raise points of order. MPs have rights to raise points of order under specific rules but she overruled it.”
Sinha said, “We did not want the fabricated JPC report. Despite our protest, the Speaker remained unmoved. It is very saddening, because it is a commentary on the way and the manner in which our Parliament is functioning. It is a very sad day for our parliamentary democracy and we strongly protest what has happened in the House.”
Dasgupta too was critical of Speaker's actions. “I have never commented on the behaviour of the Chairman or the Speaker. Today, I am saying that I disapprove the way Speaker Meira Kumar turned down our notices. We did not rise accidentally as notice was given in the morning for it. She could have overruled us after listening to us.” Senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi also criticised the way the JPC report was tabled in the House. “It is a travesty of rules of conduct of Parliamentary proceedings. I think this is a bad precedent,” he said.
Joshi said certain MPs, who were also members of JPC, were raising important points of order but they were not heard. They were not given chance to speak and place their point of view. The Speaker was at liberty to disallow them. But to not allow them to even present their point of view, it's a very bad precedent,” he said.