New Delhi:
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has retaliated to a dare by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who urged him earlier this week to testify on the telecom scam for a parliamentary committee unless he has "something to hide."
(Read Yashwant Sinha's letter to PM)"I have said from the beginning that neither the Government nor I have anything to hide in this matter," the PM responded today. (
Read full statement)
His office said it has submitted all documents solicited by a parliamentary committee that's studying the swindle. The Prime Minister said it is up to the committee to decide who to summon.
'If PM says his conscience is clear he should appear before JPC... By not deposing before JPC, it appears PM has something to hide," Mr Sinha said in response to the PM's remarks.
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) is headed by PC Chacko, a Congressman. Mr Chacko today said that there is a procedure that the JPC has to follow to summon the PM. "The PM has never said he will appear before the JPC on the 2G case... Why will the PM appear before the JPC if he has not been summoned?" said Mr Chacko, adding, "There is no question of calling the Prime Minister or any minister just like that."
Mr Sinha, who is a member of the JPC, has said that the Prime Minister was aware of the alleged malpractices employed by A Raja, who was Telecom Minister in 2008.
Last year, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 telecom licenses issued by Mr Raja, who has spent over a year in jail, is on trial for criminal charges, and claims that the Prime Minister and Finance Minister P Chidambaram were aware of the policies he followed and must therefore be held accountable for any irregularities.
Mr Raja has been urging the Joint Parliamentary Committee, which has nearly 30 lawmakers from different parties, to hear him out in person. But the committee has refused.
Mr Sinha claimed that in his notes to the committee, Mr Raja has levelled "serious allegations" against the Prime Minister and Finance Minister P Chidambaram and that they should explain his statements.
(Read)