Pathak Report: CPI-M comes to rescue of PM

New Delhi, Aug 7: Asserting that the leak of the Justice Pathak Authority report before being tabled in Parliament ''is definitely'' a matter of consideration for a privilege motion, the CPI(M) today virtually defended Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying it was yet to be established that he had any role in making it public.

''Where has it been established that the PM was involved in the leak of the report when the Rajya Sabha Chairman and the Lok Sabha Speaker are yet to decide whether the issue merits a privilege motion or not?'' CPI(M) Parliamentary Group leader Sitaram Yechury told newspersons.

At a press conference in the vicinity of the Parliament House, Mr Yechury, along with his other colleagues, however, came down heavily on the main opposition BJP for ''violating Parliamentary proceedings and traditions'' which led to the adjournment of both the Houses for the day.

Mr Yechury, the party Polit Bureau member and Rajya Sabha member, answering a specific query, said the ATR was clear that Mr Natwar Singh had helped others make money but did not indulge in any currupt practice.

Further quoting the ATR, he said Mr Singh ''misused'' his position within the Congress and not when he was either an MP or the union minister. ''So, it is for the Congress to take action against him. The government or Parliament is not the forum for it,'' Mr Yechury asserted.

On repeated questions relating to Reliance as a beneficiary, the Left leaders said they had asked the government what action it had taken so far. ''It is the CPI(M) only which raised the issue on the floor of the House in November last.'' On the privilege procedures, the Left leaders emphasised that any member could give a notice for the motion. The member had to remind the presiding officer whether his motion had been considered or not.

Following the consideration of the motion, the matter went to the Privilege Committee, which finally decided on it.

''The member does not ask for discussion, he just mentions it,'' they added.

Earlier, party Deputy leader and Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha Salim Mohammad and Rup Chand Paul respectively regretted that it was for the first time in the Parliamentary history that the Opposition BJP, after giving notice of privilege motion at 1000 hrs, wanted the Speaker to tell them at 1015 hrs about the fate of the motion.

The Parliamentary tradition had been that only after the Question Hour was over, matters relating to privilege motion were raised.

Today, the BJP did not allow even the Question Hour depriving the members of raising important issues like the presence of pesticides in the Colas and the PDS.'' Elaborating, Mr Yechury said his party was not approached for a joint motion. ''This is not my party's motion...so, there is no question of associating or disassociating with it.'' The CPI(M) Polit Bureau member was asked about his party's reservations especially when the CPI was supporting the motion.

He said nothing could be done until the presiding officers of the Houses decided on the merit of the issue.

UNI

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