CPI(M) demands JPC on 2G Spectrum scam

Kolkata: Describing the 2G spectrum scam as a “mountain of corruption”, the CPI-M today made a fresh demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe and also asked for a statement by the Prime Minister on the issue.

“There has been a huge scam in the spectrum allocation involving lakhs of crores of rupees. Such a mountain of corruption has not happened before. There should be a JPC probe into it,” CPI-M politburo member Biman Bose told reporters after addressing a Left Front rally here.

Bose, who is also the chairman of the West Bengal ruling Left Front, demanded that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh make a statement on the scandal.

CPI-M Rajya Sabha member Shyamal Chakraborty addressing the rally, criticised Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee for remaining “silent” on the demand for a JPC probe.

“Why is the Trinamool Congress chief keeping mum on the demand for a JPC probe when she claims herself to be the symbol of honesty?” Chakraborty, who is a CPI-M Central Committee member asked.

Referring to the recent criticism of ally Trinamool Congress on several issues by state Congress chief Manas Bhuniya, Chakraborty exhorted party cadres not to attach much importance to it.

The Trinamool Congress chief is fully aware of whom to placate and she knows very well how to present Sonia Gandhi a Dhaniakhali sari, Chakraborty said, adding, it does not matter what Manas Bhunia is saying.

“She wants them (Congress high command) to let her capture power in Bengal and in exchange she will keep quiet in all cases of corruption. She will be pledge-bound to support the Congress-led UPA government,” Chakraborty alleged.

The Left Front started a seven-day sit-in demonstration at the Metro Channel here today to voice its protest against price rise, Maoist violence and other issues.