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Rajya Sabha adopts motion for JPC probe into
chopper deal
Wednesday February 27, 2013 08:12:30 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi:
After a walkout by several opposition parties, the Rajya Sabha
Wednesday adopted a motion for the setting up of a joint
parliamentary committee to probe the deal for purchase of VVIP
helicopters.
The motion, read by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath, was
moved after a short discussion on the purchase of the helicopters
by the defence ministry from AgustaWestland.
The contract for purchase of 12 AW101 helicopters at a cost of
$750 million/Rs.3,600 crore was signed in 2010.
Opposing the motion, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the
joint parliamentary committee (JPC) will be an "exercise in
futility" and was a "diversionary tactic" by the government.
"I, therefore, oppose this motion," said the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) leader.
Jaitley said what was needed was a proper case and custodial
interrogation of people to get to the truth. "The JPC has none of
these powers."
The Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal-United and Trinamool Congress
were among the parties that opposed the proposal to set up the JPC.
Kamal Nath said the JPC will monitor the investigations of the
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
"The JPC will monitor what the CBI is doing and the speed at which
investigations are taking place," he said.
He accused the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance of "running
away from the JPC".
"It is nothing but plain politics," Kamal Nath said and added that
the members will get a chance to go to the bottom of the matter.
He said the opposition had not allowed an entire session to
function for its demand for JPC on the 2G spectrum controversy and
was now opposing a similar move in the helicopter purchase case.
The minister said if the government had not announced the JPC, it
would have been accused of not agreeing to a parliamentary
committee.
Communist Party of India leader D. Raja said the motion should be
deferred till a broad consensus was worked out.
He said the BJP and several other parties had walked out. "Is it
fair to take vote?" he asked.
However, Deputy Chairman P.J. Kurien said the motion had been
moved and took a voice vote. He then announced that it had been
adopted.
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