We can discuss JPC probe in Parliament: Congress

Ahead of Tuesday's meeting with Opposition parties convened by the government, Congress on Friday appeared to have softened its stand on the joint parliamentary committee probe issue in a bid to break the deadlock in Parliament on the 2G spectrum allocation scam.

"We are open to discussing such a resolution in Parliament on the JPC issue," Congress spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan said, noting that she was seeking cooperation of the Opposition to ensure a smooth budget session.

She said if such a resolution is brought, it should be voted upon.

At the same time, Natarajan did not elaborate on whether the Congress favoured such resolutions in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. She merely said it was for the government to decide in the matter.

While the ruling United Progressive Alliance obviously has majority in the Lower House, it is in a minority in the Upper House.

Natarajan's remarks at the party briefing assume significance as the BJP and Left parties have remained adamant on the issue of the JPC in spite of the arrest of former telecom minister A Raja by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the scam.

Facing a volley of questions, the Congress spokesperson said that the idea did not mean the party has softened its stand on the issue of JPC. Congress was still opposed to the setting up of such a committee, she said.

"There is no step forward. Our position is the same," Natarajan said.

She said that in view of the complete washout of the winter session of Parliament and the deadlock continuing, "We would like to call upon all parties to come forward and cooperate and ensure that some way is found to end the deadlock."

She denied that the Congress itself was making a suggestion, saying that such an idea was "already in the public domain and we are not pulling it out of thin air".

Natarajan said it was important to ensure the budget session of Parliament runs smoothly and "all important issues that agitate the minds of the Opposition" are discussed on the floor of the House.

"This is an appeal we would like to make and we hope that from that meeting the deadlock would be broken and Parliament would continue in the normal routine way during the budget session," she said.

This issue would be discussed at the meeting of all opposition leaders convened by Mukherjee on February 8 in an attempt to break the Parliament deadlock, the spokesperson said.