New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today finally broke his silence on the 2G spectrum scam. Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit in New Delhi on Saturday, his message, especially to the Opposition, was loud and clear - we are not afraid of a discussion, but Parliament must be allowed to function.
"There should be no doubt in anybody's mind that if any wrong thing has been done by anybody, he or she will be brought to book. But for all these to happen, in a democracy we have to allow Parliament to function... We are ready to discuss all issues. We are not afraid of discussions," he said on the stalemate over the spectrum issue. (
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"I appeal to all political parties to let Parliament to do its work. We need Parliament to function more regularly to pass legislations, laws and Supplementary Demands for grants for various departments," Singh said.
While appealing to political parties, he said in a democracy, there was need for "reasoned debate" to raise "nationally-acceptable" approaches. "It is my humble request to all political parties to allow Parliament to function. We can discuss everything," the Prime Minister said.
Noting that it is "often said that these are testing times", Singh said, "in fact, I cannot help feeling that we in India are always living through testing times. Indeed, as Prime Minister I sometimes feel like a high school student - going from one test to another."
Reacting to the Prime Minister's appeal to let the Parliament function and discuss the issue, the BJP has said the 2G spectrum has been debated for long and it's time for action now.
"It is curious that ministers and Congress leaders have suddenly come to the defence of the Prime Minister over the 2G scam. This sudden playing of Raag Darbari cannot hide one stark fact that it is a glaring case where he is patiently involved in the conspiracy of silence," the BJP's chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad told reporters.
Prasad said the CBI began probe in the matter in October 2009 and in its interim report found that a scam to the tune of Rs 25,000 crore had taken place. "Why was the CBI not allowed to interrogate former Telecom Secretary? How did all this take place right under your nose? The Prime Minister brought the integrity standards to an all time low by forcing the appointment of then Telecom Secretary as CVC. If you (PM) are a man of integrity, then how will you remove this stain?" the BJP leader adding, "a scam of this magnitude cannot have taken place without the involvement of the then Telecom Minister and bureaucrats under him. We demand his arrest and of those who are involved in the financial bungling", Prasad said. (
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The Opposition has stalled Parliament, demanding a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into alleged irregularities and corruption into the 2G spectrum scam. "We also want Parliament to function and that is the reason JPC should be constituted," CPM's Sitaram Yechury told NDTV.