Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a statement in Parliament on Tuesday morning to announce the governments intention to set up a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the 2G spectrum allocation scam. Sources disclosed that the announcement would follow the introduction of new ministers by the Prime Minister. However,the follow-up action will have to wait till Thursday. The sources said a motion for setting up the JPC would be moved by Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal after the Prime Ministers reply to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the Presidents address. Once it is carried,the motion will be referred to the Rajya Sabha for its approval. The sources said the Prime Ministers announcement is intended to pacify the Opposition,which has been pressing for the formation of a JPC on the first day of the session to facilitate smooth proceedings. The parties would now utilise the next two days to work out the modalities. The Congress has to make up its mind on the chairman of the panel,besides finalising the terms of reference. Both sides are in favour of a broader panel comprising 21 or 31 people so that more parties can be taken on board. Whatever the size,the Lok Sabha would have double the members drawn from the Rajya Sabha in the panel. As it is,only seven parties Congress,BJP,Trinamool Congress,Samajwadi Party,BSP,JD-U and DMK are certain to get representation in the committee. Though it is impossible to accommodate all 37 parties which have their representatives in the two Houses,efforts are afoot to get in sizeable groups,particularly the Left Front,which has a combined strength of 24 in the Lok Sabha.
