30 member JPC set up to probe 2G-spectrum issue
By ANIThursday, February 24, 2011
NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee moved a motion in the Lok Sabha for the appointment of a 30-member Committee, who will look into the telecom policy pursued from 1998 to 2009 including the allocation and pricing of telecom licenses and spectrum.
The government has conceded to the opposition’s demand of setting up a Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe alleged irregularities in the 2G-spectrum allocation.
The panel has been asked to make recommendations to ensure the formulation of appropriate procedures for the implementation of the laid down policy in allocation and pricing of the telecom licenses and will give its report by the end of the Monsoon session of the Parliament.
The JPC has 20 Lok Sabha members and 10 Rajya Sabha members.
The Government’s decision to set up the JPC has finally ended the deadlock between the Government and the Opposition, over the issue, which had interfered with the entire winter session of Parliament.
Moving the motion, Mukherjee said: ” Parliament cannot be mortgaged to the conceding of a demand.”
“If hatred and disrespect for parliamentary institutions was generated, it would lead to the rise of extra-constitutional authorities,” he added. (ANI)
