NDA guns for Buta making Sonia fire a no-trust notice

The Opposition sprang a surprise in Parliament today when it tabled a no-confidence motion against the NDA government after a week-long impa...

The Opposition sprang a surprise in Parliament today when it tabled a no-confidence motion against the NDA government after a week-long impasse over the Government’s refusal to part with a Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) report to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) probing Defence purchases.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi gave notice on the no-confidence motion after discussions with other Opposition parties and it’s likely to be taken up for a two-day debate on Monday.

It’s seen as a counter-strategy to the move by the BJP and its allies to force PAC chairman Buta Singh to quit. Ten of the 22 members of the PAC have already written to Buta Singh, asking him to resign.

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The reason: Although the CVC report marked ‘‘secret’’ was sent to Buta Singh on July 27, he did not show it to the PAC members at the meeting convened on July 31.

The MPs have informed Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi of their letter. Moves are also afoot to get three more signatures to apply pressure on Singh to quit. In the PAC, there are five MPs from the BJP and seven from its allies and one from the AIADMK.

Speaking to The Indian Express, PAC member and BJP leader Kirit Somaiya said: ‘‘The PAC chairman did not disclose vital information to the committee. The rulings of the Lok Sabha Speaker today and Rajya Sabha chairman yesterday vindicate our stand that the PAC report was incomplete.’’ He said that since the PAC report is incomplete, it should be sent back to the committee.

When contacted, Buta Singh said: ‘‘I did whatever was permissible under the rules. The Lok Sabha Secretary-General had specified that it was not to be circulated, so I did not do it.’’

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Singh, who is in no mood to resign, said that it was for the Speaker to decide. He said, ‘‘ I am nominated by the Speaker. The post is earmarked for the Opposition and I have been chosen by the Leader of the Opposition.’’ He said that whatever he did was according to the rules and all the allegations against him were ‘‘baseless.’’

In his letter to the Speaker, Somaiya wrote: ‘‘More than 10 PAC members have submitted their objection, observations, breach of faith notices, breach of privileges notices against PAC chairman. The chairman has misled the committee by suppressing vital, important information, documents. Not only is the report ultra vires, illegal but was submitted before correction with political motive.’’

The letter added, ‘‘I am enclosing herewith the copy of my letter requesting PAC chairman to resign. If chairman does not accept the request, I would request you to take necessary action.’’