Guruswamy issue rocks Parliament, JPC demanded

NEW DELHI, MARCH 5: Side-stepping the Government's attempts to downplay the Vishnu Bhagwat episode, the Congress has decided to embarrass...

NEW DELHI, MARCH 5: Side-stepping the Government’s attempts to downplay the Vishnu Bhagwat episode, the Congress has decided to embarrass the Centre by moving censure motion notices against Defence Minister George Fernandes and seeking a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into Mohan Guruswamy’s allegations of corruption against Yashwant Sinha and the PMO.

Party leaders raised the issue in the Lok Sabha today of Guruswamy’s charges and later spokesperson Ajit Jogi reiterated it in the Congress’ daily press briefing. “Looking at the seriousness of the allegations and the specific nature of the charges, we have demanded the constitution of a JPC of both Houses of Parliament to probe the charges,” Jogi said.

Guruswamy’s tenure as the Finance Minister’s Financial Advisor ended in a controversy with he claiming that he had quit and the Government saying they had sacked him. The Congress has taken it up to try and put some more egg on the Government’s face after the Bihar mess.

Story continues below this ad

“The allegations arenot only against the Finance Minister, the Commerce Minister and the Steel Minister but also refer to a close relative of the PM. We will press for the JPC in Parliament and hope that other Opposition parties, especially the secular ones, would be with us on this issue,” Jogi said.

In the Lok Sabha today, Sinha said he was ready to quit if any of the charges against him were proved and that he was for a detailed discussion on the subject in any case. “Huge sums are involved, to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore, in what is now known as the steel scam and the JPC must be set up to find proof,” the Congress spokesperson added.

The party has also moved more than a dozen notices seeking a discussion either under Rule 184 or Rule 193 in the Lok Sabha into the circumstances of former Navy Chief Vishnu Bhagwat’s sacking. “The notices are plenty and substantive in nature with the focus on corruption and charges of receiving kickbacks. We are also keen on exposing the arms lobby,” Jogi said.

Essentially, thenotices are censure motions against Defence Minister George Fernandes and Speaker G M C Balayogi is expected to take a decision on whether to permit a discussion as sought by the Congress.

Story continues below this ad

Meanwhile, senior Congress leaders including CWC members, AICC office-bearers, PCC presidents, CLP leaders and others held a long meeting on the party’s organisational elections. The party has set a deadline of August 31 for completing the process beginning with block-level polls and ending with the election of the party president.

Apparently, a decision has been taken by the party’s Central Election Authority head Ram Niwas Mirdha to have the Pradesh Election Authority head as the state returning officer too. PCCs have been asked to submit a list of 10-15 people for the PEA’s of which three or five members will be shortlisted as final choices.

The party’s membership drive is to end by May 31 and is to be done on the lines of recent amendments to the Congress’ constitution reserving 33 per cent for women and a minimumof 20 per cent for OBCs, SC/STs, minorities and other backwards.

Also, a section of Bihar leaders called on party president Sonia Gandhi seeking a reversal of the party decision to oppose President’s Rule in the state. The move is however a little too late, say senior leaders as the die is cast.