M M Joshi reappointed PAC chairperson

M M Joshi reappointed PAC chairperson  

Veteran BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has been reappointed as chairperson of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), notwithstanding controversy surrounding him with regard to the draft report on the 2G spectrum scam.  

Joshi was nominated by his party following which Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has reappointed him as chairman of PAC which is responsible for conducting the financial audit of various departments and ministries.

The term of the previous committee ended on Saturday. Joshi's reappointment will be effected from Sunday and he will be the chairperson for one year.

The 77-year-old leader has been recently at the centre of major controversy after he circulated the draft report of PAC on the 2G scam.

He was attacked by the PAC members belonging to UPA who alleged that the report was prepared with "malafide intention" to defame and destabilise the Government.

Rejecting the charges of being malafide, Joshi on Saturday sent the report to Lok Sabha Speaker and wanted her to table it in Parliament.

Addressing media, he also termed as "unconstitutional" the claim that 11 MPs of the 21-member committee had "rejected" the report, saying said such a possibility does not exist till the report is "read" by members and "discussed" para by para.

Replying to a question, Joshi said he would wait for a decision from the Lok Sabha Speaker on whether the report had been "adopted".

Joshi submits 2G report, wants it to be tabled in Parliament

Unmindful of 'rejection' of the draft report on 2G scam by UPA members, PAC Chairman Murli Manmohar Joshi on Saturday submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and insisted that it be tabled in Parliament.

Hours after he sent the report to the Speaker's office on the last day of tenure of the current PAC, he dismissed the UPA members' claim that the report had been rejected.

"I have submitted the report... My expectation is that the Speaker should accept it and place it in Parliament," he said addressing a press conference.

Terming as "unconstitutional" the claim that 11 MPs of the 21-member committee had "rejected" the report, he said such a possibility does not exist till the report is "read" by members and "discussed" para by para.

"It is wrong to say that 11 members have rejected (the report). It is unconstitutional," he maintained about the report which was sharply critical of the Prime Minister, PMO and the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram among others.