New Delhi, November 22
The government stood cornered today as a united Opposition rejected its request to restore parliamentary proceedings until a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) was constituted to probe the 2G spectrum scam in its totality. With the deadlock in both Houses entering its ninth day, UPA’s man Friday Pranab Mukherjee hosted a second lunch in a week for Opposition leaders only to find their resolve firmer than before.

They slammed the government offer of probe by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) assisted by a multi-disciplinary investigative team of the Enforcement Directorate, the CAG, the CBI and the Income Tax Department and said nothing short of a JPC would do if Parliament was to run.

Under pressure, the UPA is likely to yield, with top sources telling The Tribune of this remark Pranab made to Opposition leaders at today’s meeting: “If we agree to a JPC, it would not be because we are convinced, but because we would give in.” Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj, when asked if a JPC was likely, answered in the affirmative.

The BJP is seeking a JPC with enhanced terms of reference to cover issues beyond the spectrum allocation which the episode has raised, including the role of media in brokering power at the behest of corporates as the spectrum tapes have shown.

In today’s 80-minute meeting, Sushma and BJP leader in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley mentioned the danger that corporate culture was posing to Indian democracy. “Now corporates will determine how the government will run, who will get which ministry, how policies will be modified and which mediaperson will write what. Legislature, executive, judiciary and media are all under threat. This is serious. Also, with the Supreme Court making observations on the PM, the matter has become huge. Only a JPC can handle it,” Sushma said adding that media houses in the dock for fixing deals must be called to question. Earlier, chief of an English channel was also summoned by a House committee probing the “cash-for-vote” case.