No conflict between JPC and PAC: MM Joshi

Chairman of Public Accounts Committee Murli Manohar Joshi on Tuesday said that there was no conflict or clash between the Joint Parliamentary Committee and the panel headed by him and both can function within their own domain to probe irregularities in 2G spectrum allocation. He said that the JPC was supposed to work under specific terms of reference and conditions and did not have the right to summon the prime minister or any minister but PAC was a constitutional body.

The 2G scam was being probed by the Supreme Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate and the PAC and all the agencies were working without any clash, he told reporters here.

Referring to the invitation to Pakistan president and prime minister to watch the cricket World Cup semi-final at Mohali, the Bharatiya Janata Party leader said that "cricket diplomacy" has its own place but in case of Pakistan the most important thing was its "intention and will" to live in peace and harmony with India. He said that another problem in improving bilateral relations with Pakistan was that "it is not clear that who would take the final decision in that country on a crucial matter-- the democratically elected government or the army".

On reported remarks of Home Minister P Chidambaram in leaked United States diplomatic cables that India would have made more progress if it had only southern and western parts, Joshi said, "Our prime ministers from the north did not have parochial vision and planned for the development of the entire country and faster development took place in southern states but the benefits of the growth should be shared by the entire country.

"If the home minister thinks otherwise, he has no moral right to remain in his position," he said.