New Delhi:
Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday dismissed reports of cracks in the UPA over the issue of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G spectrum scam.
"Trinamool will go with government decision on JPC," Mukherjee said after meeting Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. Trinamool is a key UPA ally.
Speaking on the JPC issue, Banerjee had said on Tuesday: "Yes, we want that the truth should come out. So if the government forms the JPC, we'll be very happy to see it. It is a government decision." The Railway Minister, however, reiterated that her party would support the government's decision.
The Trinamool had said it feels this would put them in a better position to face the upcoming polls in Bengal and keep their image of zero-tolerance for corruption intact. "There is no reason for us to be scared. If JPC happens, we are ok with it. All we are saying is that it is the decision of the PM and the government. We just don't want to oppose their decision publicly," Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay had said.
While the Opposition continues to insist for a JPC, the government has said it is unacceptable. This stand-off has ensured that the entire Winter Session of Parliament passed without any work -daily protests by the Opposition have led to both Houses being adjourned. Several all-party meetings called by the government to find a compromise have failed.