JPC takes angered by non-submission of controversial note on spectrum allocation

The Joint Parliamentary Committee investigating the 2G scam took exception today to the finance ministry's ''attempts to suppress facts'' by withholding submission of the controversial internal note on spectrum allocation.

When the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on telecom policies met this morning, several members questioned the non-submission of the finance ministry note which suggested that Chidambaram during his tenure as finance minister in 2008 – could have prevented the 2G scam if he had insisted on auctioning the spectrum.

Sitaram Yechury (CPM) is understood to have termed the non-submission of the note by the finance ministry was a ''serious act'' if it was a lapse on their part.

Going a step further he termed  it as a  ''breach of privilege'' if the note was a deliberate act by the  finance ministry after it was asked by the JPC to submit to it all documents related to the 2G spectrum allocation.

S S Ahluwalia of the BJP called for an adjournment of the meeting till the finance secretary appeared before the committee to explain the position. Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI) is learnt to have voiced similar demands.

Following a three-hour debate on the matter, the JPC called Nripendra Mishra, who was telecom secretary between February 2004 and March 2005, for recording evidence but the meeting had to be adjourned for the day.