Congress, DMK demands PAC chairman Joshi's resignation

New Delhi, Apr 27 (ANI): Charging Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairman Murli Manohar Joshi of having 'malafide intention' of destabilising the government, the Congress and DMK leaders of the panel on Wednesday demanded his resignation over the draft report on the 2G spectrum scam.

Congress leaders Navin Jindal Saifuddin Soz and KS Rao, and DMK member T Siva criticized Joshi for pushing the report speedily for 'political mileage'.

"The draft report seems to have been prepared in a pre-determined manner with biased mind and 'malafide intention'. The members had no idea that tomorrow's meeting was to discuss the report and were shocked to learn about it through the media. We did not know Joshi was in hurry to present report by April 30," said K S Rao.

"We all are for unanimous report. But why is he in a hurry? What is the intention? Do we have to say everything that the chairman says?" he added.

Jindal alleged several things mentioned in the draft report are incorrect and that they would raise all these issues in the next meeting.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, which is probing the 2G spectrum scam has in its report indicted former Telecom Minister A. Raja for misleading the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, in 2008.

The draft, however, questions the officials of the Prime Minister's Office, while dealing with the 2G spectrum issues.

According to the PAC report, the PMO could have intervened faster in objections presented on A Raja's 'First Come First Serve Policy'.

The draft also says that Raja misled Dr. Manmohan Singh to fulfill his 'nefarious designs' leading to a staggering loss of revenue.

The draft further adds that the Prime Minister was aware of the advice given by the Law Ministry, which was contrary to the view of the Telecom Ministry.

The report is also critical of Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister then.

According to the PAC report: "We are shocked and dismayed that instead of initiating stringent action against all those responsible for the loss, the Finance Minister in his note asked the Prime Minister to close the matter."

The PAC, which is headed by senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Murli Manohar Joshi, has 22 members from different political parties. (ANI)