2G: Cong backs "rejection" of PAC draft report

As Public Accounts Committee descended into chaos, the Congress on Thursday backed the "rejection" of the draft report on 2G scam by a majority of members of Parliament on the panel and held its Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi and Bharatiya Janata Party squarely responsible for the document containing "blatant falsehoods".

"Congress supports rejection of the draft report. We back whatever the party members did in the meeting of the PAC," party General Secretary Janardan Dwivedi told mediapersons. His comments came close on the heels of the United Progressive Alliance managing to secure the support of the Bahujam Samaj Party and Samajwadi Party to obtain a surprising majority in the PAC which "rejected" the draft report on the 2G scam that was sharply critical of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, his office and others.

Speaking separately, party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan dubbed the draft report as a "blatant falsehood" and demanded an explanation from Joshi on how the document got leaked.

Accusing the BJP of destroying the institution of the PAC, she said that "entire responsibility" of erosion of credibility of the prestigious committee lay with the opposition party and Joshi. "Who will take the responsibility of the leaked report," she said accusing Joshi of "abusing" his office of PAC chairman and maintained that holding of regular press briefing by the PAC chairman was "definately unusual"

At the PAC meeting, seven Congress MPs, supported by two from Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam, attacked the chairman of the 21-member committee and veteran BJP leader M M Joshi over leakage of the report prepared by him which had made headlines.