News Politics National NCP joins Opposition demand to let Raja depose as witness before JPC

NCP joins Opposition demand to let Raja depose as witness before JPC

New Delhi: In an embarrassment to Congress, UPA ally NCP has broken ranks with it by supporting the opposition's demand to call former Telecom Minister A Raja as a witness before the Joint Parliamentary Committee



In the light of fresh development, the September 27 meeting is set to be stormy as it has to adopt the controversial draft report which gave a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance Minister P Chidambaram, but had indicted former Telecom Minister A Raja for the 2G scam.

Battle lines have been drawn for the meeting as BJP and Left members are all set to oppose the draft report by either giving strong notes of dissent or demanding a vote.

The JPC has 20 members from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha. It has 12 members of the ruling UPA—Congress (11) and NCP (1). Among its outside allies, SP have one member and BSP two.

Opposition camp has BJP (6), BJD (1), TMC (1), CPI (1), CPI-M (1), DMK (1) and AIADMK (1). JD(U), which recently split with BJP, has two members and the party's stand will be crucial.

Besides, there is one nominated member from the Rajya Sabha.