AK Antony comes clean, stink stays with government

Under fire over the controversial Augusta Westland chopper deal, the UPA government on Wednesday announced the constitution of a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to look into the matter. A motion to this effect was tabled in Rajya Sabha by parliamentary affairs minister Kamal Nath, which was passed amidst walkout by the NDA and Trinamool Congress (TMC) members.

Leading the charge for rejecting the formation of JPC, leader of opposition, Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitley said the whole exercise will be futile and constituting a JPC is nothing but a diversionary tactic by the government. ‘How can JPC members sitting in a room give the name of the bribe taker? What is needed is a proper case and for people to be interrogated and extradited and that’s why a JPC is not of any use. That’s why we oppose the motion,’ said Jaitley. He proposed they would be accept a JPC only if it is headed by an opposition member.

The debate in the House saw the Opposition accusing the government of not being serious about finding the truth as there has been inaction for over a year. Replying to the debate, Defence Minister A K Antony asserted there would be no cover up and the government was determined to go to the root of the scam. ‘We have to go to the root of the scam and punish the culprits because every pie that the government spends comes from tax payers. Whoever swindled public money have to be booked,’ said Antony. He also revealed he had thought of resigning after the scam broke. The 30-member JPC would submit its report within three months of its first sitting.