JPC logjam to continue in budget session?

The standoff between the government and the Opposition over the issue of Joint Parliamentary Committee on 2G spectrum, which led to the washing out of Parliamentary business in the entire winter session, could cast its shadow even on the budget session. And indication to this was given by Janata Dal-United chief Sharad Yadav on Saturday.

"Corruption and Parliament cannot go on together" was his refrain when asked what would be the Opposition' strategy during the budget session as the government has so far refused to accept the Opposition's demand for JPC even as the winter session was coming to an end on Monday.

Asked about the reports of the possibility of mid-term polls in the country if the standoff continued on the issue, Yadav said, "All these rumours are originating from Congress."

Senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh had also dismissed the possibility of snap Lok Sabha elections next year if the deadlock in Parliament over the issue of JPC probe into the 2G spectrum scam continued in the budget session.

On Thursday, a senior leader of a key United Progressive Alliance ally, who requested anonymity, had spoken of the possibility of snap Lok Sabha elections if the logjam extended to the budget session.

Yadav said that efforts are on to forge a greater unity of the Opposition on the issue of corruption and ensure the participation of more and more parties in December 22 rally against corruption.

Sources in the Opposition, however, said that with Left unwilling to join the Bharatiya Janata Party during any such exercise, the proposed rally could well end up being an National Democratic Alliance event only.

Communist Party of India and CPI-Marxist will finalise their strategy on December 14 and 15 in Hyderabad where both parties are holding different programmes. Sources in the Left said they are making attempts to bring secular non-NDA parties on one platform in the campaign against corruption.