PM to make statement in Parliament on JPC

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singhwill make a statement in Parliament tomorrow in which he isexpected to announce the government''s intention to form aJoint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2G spectrumallocation scam.

Singh is likely to make the statement in the Lok Sabhasoon after the introduction of new ministers in his Cabinet.

Parliament sources said a motion for constituting a JPCwould be moved on Thursday by Telecom Minister Kapil Sibalafter the Prime Minister replies to the Motion of Thanks tothe President''s address to the joint sitting of Parliament.

The motion on the JPC would then be referred to the RajyaSabha for its concurrence.

The government has already agreed to the oppositiondemand for formation of a JPC into 2G spectrum allocation, anissue over which the entire winter session of Parliament waswashed out.

Government sources indicated that the JPC will be "broad-based" and would accommodate as many parties as possible.

If the size of the JPC is kept small, there could berepresentation for only seven to nine major parties. Congress,BJP, Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP, JD-U and DMKcould get the membership in view of their numbers. There are atotal of 37 parties in Parliament.

Sources said if the JPC has 30 MPs, then it wouldcomprise 20 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the RajyaSabha. If the Committee is set up with 21 members, then 14will be drawn from the Lower House and 7 from the House ofElders.

With the entire winter session disrupted, there wasall-round criticism and expression of concerns that led bothsides to think ways of finding a way out of the impasse.

According to one estimate, over Rs 150 crore was spent ona session that did not transact any business.