2G scam: Left parties ask President Patil to convince Govt. on JPC

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): Left party leaders on Tuesday called on President Pratibha Patil and urged her to advise the UPA Government to accept their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Probe (JPC) into the 2G spectrum scam.

About 80 MPs belonging to the CPM, CPI, Forward Block, TDP, AIADMK, JD(S), MDMK, BJD and RLD marched from Parliament to the President's House and submitted a memorandum to her.

"The 2G spectrum scam is the biggest mess ever. We requested the President to impress upon her government to accept the command for a JPC to probe the scam," CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters after meeting the President.

"There is a need to check the structure..., how it is being misused for corruption. Only a JPC can suggest new regulation, if necessary, new laws so that the country can be protected against corruption," he added.

Yechury further said: "We are not responsible for the Parliament not functioning. We want it to function but the Government should accept our demand."

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said: "We have requested the President to make use of her constitutional powers as she has the powers to advise the government."

"We want her to use her powers and advise the government on JPC," he added.

Meanwhile, the functioning of Parliament continued to be hit for the 13th working day over the opposition demand for a JPC probe.

Both house were adjourned first till noon, and then after the laying of papers amidst pandemonium, for the day.

The Winter Session of Parliament began on November 9 and has witnessed repeated adjournments over the opposition's insistence for a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the 2G scam, even after A. Raja resigned as Communications and IT Minister. (ANI)