The Prime Minister has rejected BJP leader Yashwant Sinha's demand for appearing before Joint Parliamentary Committee, JPC. Mr Sinha had written a letter to Dr Manmohan Singh to appear before the JPC, probing 2G spectrum scam.

In a response to Sinha's letter, Dr. Singh said the power to call any person before the JPC rests with the committee and its chairman. Mr Singh reiterated that all pertinent records and documents available with the government have already been placed with the JPC, looking into the matter.

JPC Chairman P C Chacko also rejected Sinha's demand for Prime Minister Minister Singh's appearance before the panel probing the 2G issue.

Mr. Chacko, who is also a Congress spokesperson, said at the AICC briefing in New Delhi today that in the 56 meetings of the JPC, nobbody gave a suggestion for calling the Prime Minister or any other Minister.

He added, there is a rule that no minister can be called before the JPC. He said if at all JPC wants to call a minister, it has to take a unanimous decision first and then send the request to Lok Sabha Speaker.

Mr. Chacko said any minister can be called before a Parliamentary panel only after the permission of the Speaker.

The fifth JPC was constituted in February 2011 to probe 2G scam.

Responding to Prime Minister's rejection of BJP's demand about appearing before the JPC , the BJP today said, since Dr Manmohan Singh had offered to depose before the Public Acount Committee-PAC, he should not shy away from the panel.

The party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters in New Delhi that the Prime Minister has often spoken inside Parliament on crucial issues why can he not go before the JPC.