Truth Is Lost In Demand For JPC

The phone tapping episode was the worst turn that Indian polity could arrive at. This turn ensured that the Indian Premier League scandal will never be probed deeply. Now, the focus will be on the political controversies and financial scam inherent in IPL will be conveniently sent to oblivion.

The opposition parties are waiting to corner the government over allegations of telephone tapping of key political leaders. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain has already said that his party would give a notice to suspend the Question Hour and discuss the phone-tappipng issue. Party leader L.K. Advani said a new legislation should be made in place of the outdated Indian Telephone Act to protect citizens' privacy.

It came as a shock that the government of India intercepted telephonic conversations of prominent political leaders, including chief minister of Bihar Nitish Kumar, union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, communist leaders like Prakash Karat and the Congress party's own office bearers like its general secretary Digvijay Singh.

Even Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) has also made the same demand. Party’s leader in Lok Sabha, Basudeb Acharia said the party would demand that the prime minister make a statement on the issue.

The revealation of phone-tapping, made by Outlook, came when the IPL storm was in full strength. Many politicians found themselves mired in the mud. Congress lost his one minister and two  ministers from its key partner, NCP were in the eye of storm.

Now, voices are being raised for a joint parliamentary committee probe. Like the 1992 scam involving Harshad Mehta, this probe will be focussed on political issues rather than the murky dealings in IPL. It also means that whatever little chance there was for finding the real picture behind IPL’s dreamy appearance,  we have lost it.