2G scam: Trinamool may go with Cong on JPC issue

New Delhi, Feb 5 (PTI) Trinamool Congress, which hasbeen supportive of the clamour for a Joint ParliamentaryCommittee probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scam, may gowith the Congress if it accepts the opposition demand.

The major ally has decided to go with the Congresssaying, "We have no objection to JPC if the government acceptsit", Trinamool Congress sources told PTI here.

Banerjee has already made it clear that being a UPAally, her party would go with whatever stand the coalitiongovernment at the Centre takes in the matter.

Earlier the party had said they were willing tosupport the demand for JPC probe into the spectrum issue.

However, the party wanted a debate on the issue inParliament. "Let us hear the opposition view on their demandfor a JPC. Let us also hear why the government has so farrefused to accept it", they said.

The statement came a day after Trinamool Congresschief Mamata Banerjee had a crucial meeting with FinanceMinister Pranab Mukherjee in Kolkata in a bid to strengthenunity between their parties ahead of the upcoming Assemblyelections in West Bengal.

The two leaders are understood to have discussed waysto end the stalemate in Parliament due to the opposition''sinsistence on JPC probe into the 2G spectrum allocation scamwhich led to a washout of the entire Winter Session.

The Trinamool chief has asked party''s Chief Whip inLok Sabha, Sudip Bandopadhyay, to attend the all-party meetingconvened by Mukherjee on February eight, authorising him toexplain the party''s stand there.

When contacted, Bandopadhyay told PTI from Kolkatathat he would attend the meeting. "Being the second largestparty in the UPA coalition, we have a major role to play. Weare with the UPA", he said.

Apart from issues relating to Parliament, the twoministers are also believed to have discussed issues likefinalisation of the dates of the assembly polls, deployment ofcentral security forces in view of apprehension of violenceahead of the elections, party sources said here.

"We have apprehensions about violence in the run-up tothe polls. Deploying central forces in the state is notadequate. They are not enough in numbers," the sources said.

(more) PTI ARC VSC