JPC may be formed: Govt

Bansal said that the Left parties could find a representation in the JPC as the four parties have given inwriting to the government that they be treated as a group. Thestrength of the Left formation came down significantly in thecurrent Lok Sabha from a record tally of nearly 60 in thelast Lok Sabha.

Government sources said that the JPC could be a30-member affair with 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10from the Rajya Sabha. If the Committee is set up with 21members, then 14 will be from the Lower House and 7 from theUpper House.

The JPC could have representation of seven to ninemajor parties. Congress, BJP, Trinamool Congress, SamajwadiParty, BSP, JD-U and DMK could get the membership in view oftheir numbers.

The AIADMK, which is in the forefront of the demand forJPC, is unlikely to be a member in view of lack of strength inParliament and similar will be the fate of NCP, NationalConference and Muslim League, despite being members of theruling UPA.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh could make a briefstatement in the Lok Sabha when a motion for JPC is taken up.

P V Narasimha Rao had made a statement when a JPC into theHarshad Mehta affair was set up in the early nineties.

Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal is expected to move themotion following which there will be a debate, a demand beingemphasised by the Congress.

The one-line motion could be on the lines ofinstituting a JPC probe to go into the alleged irregularitiesin the 2G spectrum allocation issue.

Bansal''s statements appeared significant in thebackdrop of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee''s remarks thatno price is dear enough to ensure smooth functioning ofParliament and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh''s assertion thathe was not afraid of facing the JPC.

Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj has demandedthe government that an announcement on the JPC would have tobe made by Tuesday, Feb 22.