BJP must explain why they boycotted JPC meet: Chacko

Amid reports that the Bharatiya Janata Party could end its boycott of the Joint Parliamentary Committee probing the 2G spectrum allocation scam, panel chief P C Chacko on Saturday said the opposition party "owes an explanation" to the people about why they left the panel and why they want to come back.

"I am very happy. I have been telling, requesting and inviting them (BJP members) to come to the meeting (of the Parliamentary Committee). I have been telling them that their abstaining from the meeting will indicate that they are not taking the committee seriously. Very important witnesses are to be examined. I am happy if good sense prevails," Chacko told reporters.

He was responding to questions on a newspaper report that the BJP is likely to attend the next meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Committee probing the 2G scam on November 8, ending its boycott of the panel to once again press for the inclusion of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram as witnesses.

The report had stated that the BJP members will review their strategy of staying away from committee proceedings after assessing the response of Chacko, who has so far been stonewalling their demand. Chacko has not discussed a witness list with the Committee yet.

Chacko maintained that he always believed that the committee needed to work collectively and the discussions should take place very transparently.

"I had told them you had to cooperate. Parliament has put great faith in us. For their own reason, they remained absent. They had said they had no faith in the committee chairman. For me, it is a happy news if all of a sudden they have found faith in the chairman," Chacko said.