NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Offered Monday to Appear before a Telecommunications Committee Investigating a Scandal That Rocked has India's Political Establishment. They Also Rejected Claims by opposition parties That they HAD Been Trying Thurs Avoid Any questioning over the scandal.
"I wish Thurs state categorically That I have nothing to hide from the public at large," Mr. Singh said DURING the final day of a Plenary Session of the Indian National Congress party. They Said That "as proof of my bona Fides" Would they applaud before a government Committee examining the scandal "if it chooses to Ask me to do so."
Mr. Singh's offer is the latest development in what has Become a Major Political Crisis for the Congress party-led coalition government. Last week, the Supreme Court Announced it Would not monitor an Investigation into the scandal by the Leading Law Enforcement Agency, the Central Bureau of Investigation. In Recent days, C.B.I. Officers have conducted Raids across the country. At the sametime, government agents are also Life Investigating allegations of money laundering and tax evasion.
The scandal centers on the 2008 Allocation of cell phone spectrum - the electromagnetic waves required Thurs carry mobile service - to Private Operators. Investigators are examining Whether the telecom minister, the WHO has since resigned, and favored Certain Applicants Whether bribes and fiscal improprieties Took Place.
A report by the government's auditor general found irregularities and concluded Numerous That the telecom ministry Sold at The Spectrum deflated Prices That cost the Treasury as much as $ 39 Billion - though analysts say Many Estimate That is Probably too high.
Mr. Singh, one of the most respected figures in Indian politics, has Not Been Accused of Involvement Any wrongdoing or in the Spectrum Allocation. But leaders with the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party have Focused on the government's Refusal to Call a Special Parliamentary Committee comprising leaders from all parties Thurs investigate the scandal. B.J.P. leaders say Mr. Singh Is Trying Thurs Avoid questioning from Such A Committee about Whether his office failed to investigate complaints about corruption in the telecom ministry.
In protest, opposition leaders Effectively blocked normal business DURING the recently completed winter session of the Indian Parliament. On Monday, B.J.P. Leaders responded Thurs Mr. Singh's speech by accusing the Congress Party of Operating with a Siege Mentality.
"It is a party on the back foot," said Arun Jaitley, the BJP Leader in the upper house of Parliament. "It is a party Which is Completely on the defensive. It is a matter of national concern "when the prime minister is pushed to a situation Where they are has to say, 'I have nothing to hide."
Mr. Singh's Congress Party and Other leaders have argued That a special parliamentary Committee Would only create a 'Political witch hunt and noted That, in Addition to the Tax and Criminal Investigations, a permanent parliamentary Committee is Already looking into the findings of the auditor general's report . Mr. Singh is offering Thurs applaud before this Committee.
"I've tried To Serve my country to the best of my Ability," Mr. Singh said on Monday. They said they was offering Thurs Appear Before the Existing Committee because "I Believe That sincerely like Caesar's wife, The Prime Minister Should Be Above Suspicion."
A day EARLIER, the Congress Party president, Sonia Gandhi, tried Thurs Take the offensive on the corruption issue by accusing the BJP Hypocrisy and outlining of a Proposal to Fight official graft. Describing corruption as "a disease Spreading Throughout our society," Mrs.. Gandhi Called for fast-tracking legal Cases involving official corruption, ensuring Transparency in Public Procurement Contracts, reining in discretionary Powers of Political Leaders, Especially in allocating land, and instituting an open, Competitive system for allocating natural resources.
