The functioning in Parliament continued to be hit for the 13th working day over the Opposition demand for a JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned first till noon and then after laying of the papers amidst pandemonium for the day. The repeated appeals by the Presiding Officers for order were ignored as Opposition members were up on their feet with many of them trooping into the wells demanding JPC probe. The ruling members were carrying placards demanding the sacking of the Karnataka Chief Minister, B.S. Yeddyurappa over alleged corruption charges. AIR correspondent adds that the two rounds of all party meetings convened by the Leader of the Lok Sabha, Pranab Mukherjee have failed to resolve the stand-off. The government has said that it is ready for a discussion on the issue. It had also offered a multi-disciplinary agency along with the Public Accounts Committee to look into the 2G spectrum issue. However, this has been rejected by the Opposition, which wants only a JPC probe.Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha Speaker, Mrs. Meira Kumar has called a meeting of the leaders of all political parties this afternoon in an effort to resolve the stand-off in Parliament. Talking to reporters in New Delhi on Monday, the Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal alleged that the BJP is disrupting the two Houses on the directions of RSS. He dismissed reports about adjourning the Houses sine die in the wake of stalemate between the Government and the opposition on the issue. In a related development, Government has decided to issue show cause notices to telecom companies in 85 cases for alleged violation of eligibility norms for getting 2G spectrum. They have been asked why their licenses should not be cancelled for failing to fulfill the eligibility criteria at the time of filing their applications. The Department of Telecommunication will also issue notices in 119 instances, dating back to 2006, for not complying with roll-out obligations.Addressing the media in New Delhi, the Communications and IT Minister Kapil Sibbal said that notices will be sent to each of them separately and they will be asked to respond in 60 days time. On the other hand, the CBI submitted to the Supreme Court on Monday, the status report on its ongoing investigations into the 2G spectrum allocation scam. The status report was submitted to the apex court registry in a sealed cover.
News On AIR | November 30, 2010 9:28 PM
Parliament adjourns for 13th working day