Speaker takes no position on Joshi''s complaint against Sibal

New Delhi, Feb 15 (PTI) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumarhas taken no position on PAC Chairman M M Joshi''s complaintagainst Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal for rubbishing the CAGreport on 2G spectrum allocation.

Joshi is apparently not satisfied with the response tohis January 19 complaint and plans to meet the Speakerpersonally to discuss the matter further.

In her response to Joshi''s letter, Kumar has merelycited the rules of conduct of proceedings of Parliamentarypanels, sources said.

The Speaker''s letter was read out by Joshi at themeeting of the PAC today in which Kumar has written thatParliamentary Committees are constitutional bodies and allmust function as per the rules laid down, the sources said.

It, however, made no mention to Sibal''s comments whichhad created an uproar and earned him the wrath of the PAC.

Sibal had claimed that the 2G spectrum allocation hadcaused "zero loss" to the exchequer and had rubbished as"utterly erroneous" the CAG''s calculation that the presumptiveloss was to the tune of Rs 1.76 lakh crore.

Terming Sibal''s remarks as an insult to Parliamentarysystem, Joshi had written to the Speaker on January 19 with arequest her to "take prompt steps to prevent the recurrence ofsuch constitutional impropriety on part of the ministers".

Asked about the letter, Joshi said he had received areply and members of the PAC felt the issue should bediscussed further with the Speaker.

"I will be meeting the Speaker to discuss the matter,"he said without giving any timeframe.

On the possibility of summoning Sibal, he said adecision will be taken by the PAC members.